Arsenal step up transfer planning
As Arsenal await the return of their World Cup stars, including newly crowned champions David Raya, Mikel Merino and Martin Zubimendi, attention will soon turn to transfer plans. There has already been some movement but we are expecting plenty more to follow.
Piero Hincapie has now signed permanently for £34.5million after a successful season on loan from Bayer Leverkusen. Illan Meslier became the second new addition, with the goalkeeper joining from Leeds United on a free. Karl Hein, Jakub Kiwior and Leandro Trossard have all moved on to free up some funds. More could yet follow, with Fabio Vieira and Gabriel Jesus among those linked with summer exits.
Mikel Arteta and his squad begin their pre-season campaign on August 1 and there's plenty of time to get business done before then. Here are our latest lines from the red half of north London.
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Arsenal land Elijah Upson after Tottenham move
Arsenal have agreed a deal for youngster Elijah Upson, son of their former defender Matt. The teenager was on Tottenham's books and Roberto De Zerbi's side reportedly offered him a new, pro contract, only for the Gunners to pounce.
The centre-back, who turned 18 in March, played 23 times in all competitions for Spurs' age group teams last season. He started at the heart of the defence in a 4-1 north London derby win in the Under-18 Premier League, with Emerson Nwaneri scoring Arsenal's goal.
Elijah's father Matt, 47, was a Premier League champion with Arsenal in the 2001/02 season. He also played top-flight football for Birmingham, West Ham, Stoke and Leicester and played for England at the 2010 World Cup.
John Stones emerges as a shock option
England and Manchester City defender John Stones is available on a free transfer this summer and Arsenal have emerged as a shock suitor.
According to The Sun, the Gunners see him as a potential short-term, cheap fix after losing William Saliba for an extended period through injury. Stones left City at the end of June after more than a decade at the Etihad Stadium.
Mikel Arteta was part of the coaching staff for a section of that spell so he already knows all about the former Everton centre-back. Arsenal are yet to determine how long they expect to be without Saliba, who aggravated a back injury at the World Cup.
However, with French media suggesting he could be out for as long as five months, Stones - also a target for Inter Milan - could help plug a defensive hole.
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