Agent offers Arsenal huge Zirkzee transfer boost as £128m Spurs battle begins

Arsenal have had a quiet start to the summer so far. Although the transfer window is not yet open, the Gunners are expected to be extremely proactive in their approach to new signings.

With key positions needing attention for Mikel Arteta ahead of pre-season there is likely to be significant change across the squad. With two players announcing their departure already and work still be done to boost the club’s financial position ahead of the June 30 deadline, getting ahead of the game is crucial.

Edu Gaspar certainly has a gruelling schedule with the European Championships, Copa America, and tour of America all to come before things get underway again for the 2024/25 campaign. With this in mind, football.london has taken a look at the latest from the world of the Gunners…

Zirkzee boost

Arsenal have been hope in their attempts to land Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee. The young forward is said to have been pushed towards moving to north London by his agent Kia Joorabchian, according to Corriere dello Sport.

The player’s intermediary is reportedly close to sporting director Edu Gaspar and a contract is already on the table. Despite securing Champions League football with Bologna under Thiago Motta, the Italian side are set to lose their manager and several key players.

Zirkzee has also been on the radar for former club Bayern Munich but with an offer of four years and a wage increase, reports state that Arsenal’s proposal is the best so far. The forward has a £35million release clause and is still being pursued by AC Milan as well as others.

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football.london says: “It would be very unlike Arsenal to be so bold with a move. But if they see Zirkzee as the answer to their questions then it could certainly pay off.

“The 23-year-old has plenty about him that suits the club and is extremely adaptable. There aren’t many forwards on the market for less than £50m at this sort of level, so Arsenal are in the right place for sure.

“With Kai Havertz able to play as a striker and Gabriel Jesus versatile across the front, Zirkzee would have enough in front of him to be relieved of immediate pressure. Giving players a smooth transition into the team has been a big success for Arteta in his time as coach, and doing so with Zirkzee here would be yet another good piece of business.”

£128m Tottenham battle on the cards?

Arsenal are locked in a battle with fierce rivals Tottenham for the signing of Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Georgiy Sudakov, according to Caught Offside. The player has been touted as a possible target for Premier League sides for a while now with Napoli, Benfica, Borussia Dortmund and Juventus also linked.

Sudakov has an enormous £128m release clause which has caught many by surprise despite the promise he has shown. It is said that a fee closer to £86m could be more realistic.

The 21-year-old enjoyed a strong year with Shakhtar, scoring six times and assisting four in the league. He registered another four goals and two assists in cup competitions an Europe.

football.london says: “It might be an unfair comparison but Sudakov seems to be a bit like Fabio Vieira on paper. He’s a versatile midfielder capable of moving forward with impressive output, but there’s a big price here.

“Arsenal aren’t really in a position to be taking the sort of risk that comes with Sudakov and would be better served spending the money elsewhere on players that are more certain to have a big impact. There isn’t the same hype around Sudakov as there was with Mykhailo Mudryk, but how he has fared in England serves as a warning.”