Arsenal summer plans: Bukayo Saka contract talks and big-money striker signing to fuel fresh title bid | OneFootball

Gunners determined to end five-year wait for a major trophy

It is now five years since the Gunners won a major trophy - and both Arteta and those above him are determined for that to end next season.

“Believe me, we are on it,” he said. “We will try to squeeze and think and turn every stone that we possibly can, to make this club even more successful.”

And so, here, Standard Sport takes a look at what lies ahead for Arsenal this summer…

Contract renewals

Much of the focus this summer will be on who comes through the door at Arsenal, but Arteta has stressed the importance of tying down key players.

“Make sure that the ones that we have, they feel valued, they feel loved and make sure that they want to continue with us in the right manner,” he said earlier this month.

Arsenal want to tie down Bukayo Saka and William Saliba to new contracts, and they have already opened talks with the latter.

Negotiations with Saka are due to ramp up this summer as both he and Saliba are into the final two years of their current deals. Gabriel is in the same situation and Arsenal would like him to agree fresh terms, too.

Gabriel Martinelli also has two years left on his contract, but his situation is less urgent as his deal has the option to be extended by a further 12 months.

Academy graduates Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly both have a year left on their contracts and tying them down is a priority for Arsenal.

Thomas Partey will be out of contract at the end of next month, but he is in talks over a new deal. Leandro Trossard has also reportedly held talks over fresh terms.

Arsenal have opened contract talks with William Saliba

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Incomings

The priority for Arsenal this summer is a new striker as, for the first time since the 1923-24 season, they finished a campaign without a player scoring 10 or more league goals.

Arteta is a big fan of Alexander Isak, but he will surely prove unattainable now after Newcastle qualified for next season’s Champions League.

Arsenal were keen on RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko last summer and remain fans of him, while Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres is another option.

The Gunners failed with a bid for Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins in January. Brighton forward Joao Pedro and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike have been touted as alternative solutions.

Arsenal would also like to add a back-up goalkeeper, midfielder and wide player during the transfer window. Defensive reinforcements could also be on the menu, but that is more dependent on outgoings.

Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams is a long-term target and he has a release clause of around £50million. Reports in Spain have claimed Real Madrid star Rodrygo may be available this summer and he would surely interest Arsenal, as well as other Premier League clubs.

Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi is expected to join for £50m. Arsenal remain keen on Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia.

Martin Zubimendi is set to complete a £50m move to Arsenal

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Outgoings

Arteta confirmed after the win at Southampton that the match was the final game for four players in his squad.

“Some of them, like Kieran [Tierney], they’ve been on this journey for six years with us,” he said. “Jorginho, we’re trying to hug him, Neto and Raheem [Sterling] as well.

“So, there are a few players that I had the duty to say thank you to. I think we all have and we wish them the best for the next season.”

There will be more exits, with Nuno Tavares likely to kick things off by making his loan move to Lazio permanent.

Fellow loanees Albert Sambi Lokonga, Fabio Vieira and Reiss Nelson face uncertain futures and could all leave.

Oleksandr Zinchenko has one year left on his contract and will be allowed to go if the right offer comes in. Borussia Dortmund were keen on him in January.

Jakub Kiwior has started the last 11 games of the season and it is unclear if he will leave Arsenal this summer.

The Poland international had previously been linked with a string of clubs in Italy after struggling for minutes earlier this season.

Oleksandr Zinchenko could leave the Gunners this summer

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Pre-season plans

Arteta has stressed the need for his players to rest and reset over the coming weeks, but it won’t be long before pre-season rolls around.

The Gunners are heading to Hong Kong and Singapore in July, where they will have games against AC Milan, Newcastle and Tottenham.

Before that, Arsenal are expected to kick preparations off early with a mini training camp - just like last year.

On that occasion, a group of players worked together in Marbella. Their families joined them on the trip as they combined the pre-season training with down time.

Arteta recently revealed that a similar camp is being planned - because the players are eager to hit the ground running.

“The players are demanding it,” said Arteta. “I mean nowadays I think it’s impossible to have four, five, six weeks on your sun bed, putting sun cream [on] and just ordering drinks.

“Then come back, six weeks later and go full gas, tour and play 65 games. I think it’s impossible. Now they demand themselves to be in the best possible condition.

“We are really lucky because we have boys there that they want to spend the summer with their families and with them, so they want to be together as well, so if they can pick a place that we can do that, we can facilitate that, more than welcome to do that.”