EXCL: Arsenal "have sounded out" Arda Guler over ambitious transfer - what we know so far | OneFootball

There’s always a lot of noise about Real Madrid, and I thought I’d post an interesting update I’ve heard about Arda Guler and transfer interest from Arsenal.

You may remember I reported earlier this year that both Arsenal and Chelsea sensed an opportunity to sign Guler this summer, and this is not the first time that this has come up.

The Turkey international was seriously looked at by the Gunners in summer 2025, but they were told early on that he was absolutely not for sale due to being a key part of Xabi Alonso’s plans.

I’m now reliably told that the uncertainty over who will be the club’s next full time manager after current interim boss Alvaro Arbeloa has led Arsenal to look again at Guler.

Arsenal sound out Arda Guler’s reps over transfer talks

“Arsenal have been in touch with those close to Arda Guler to see if there’s any scope for discussing a transfer this summer,” one source with ties to the agents industry told me.

“At the moment, he’s not giving the green light. They have sounded out this deal again but the answer still seems very much the same – he’s happy where he is, and there’s no indication that the club are ready to sell.

“Alonso showed a lot of faith in him last summer and that was one reason he stayed, but not the only one, so barring something dramatic, a change in manager this summer is not likely to give interested clubs any kind of boost.”

My take on Arsenal and Arda Guler

I think it’s important to separate the information I’ve been given from my own perspective on this after years of reporting on the transfer market, so the following is really just an educated guess at what could happen with the Guler to Arsenal saga.

Firstly, Arsenal really seem to have a firm and concrete interest, which they’ve communicated to the player, or those around him. That makes sense as he’s a superb young talent in a position they’re likely to look at this summer.

Martin Odegaard has struggled to stay fit and reach his best form, so Guler looks like an ideal successor in that position, though clearly it doesn’t currently seem realistic.

At the same time, we know how persuasive Mikel Arteta can be when he really wants a player, as we’ve seen with the key role he played in talking Declan Rice into rejecting Manchester City, and convincing Martin Zubimendi to reject Liverpool and Real Madrid, with the Spain international staying one more year at Real Sociedad before moving to the Emirates Stadium.

That won’t always work, but the indications here are that Arsenal have really wanted Guler for some time, and now might be the summer to push even harder.

No guarantees that works, but perhaps they’ve sensed an opportunity due to the uncertainty that could arise from changing manager at the Bernabeu in summer.