Arsenal set to sign right-back
Arsenal agree £19.8m deal for Bologna defender Takehiro Tomiyasu according to Sky Sports as the 22-year-old is now set for a medical at the North London club.
Arteta is said to be a long-time admirer of the defender who can play as right-back and a centre-back. He is set to be a direct replacement for Hector Bellerin who has agreed a loan move to Real Betis.
Tomiyasu has made 64 appearances in two seasons at Bologna and has been capped 23 times by Japan since his debut In 2018.
He provided three assists and scored one goal during his debut Serie A season in 2019/2020, which was more goals than any Arsenal right-back contributed to in the same season.
Alex Runarsson set to leave on loan
Arsenal goalkeeper Alex Runarsson is close to signing for Belgian club OH Leuven on loan.
The 26-year-old joined Arsenal from French side Dijon at the beginning of last season to be a replacement back-up goalkeeper for Emiliano Martinez who left to join Aston Villa.
The Icelandic international only featured in one Premier League game for the Gunners and that was as a substitute.
After failing to impress the Gunners have since then bought in Matt Ryan for six months and then £30m signing Aaron Ramsdale to compete with Bernd Leno as the substitute goalkeeper.
The Athletic says that there is not an option to buy clause in the loan deal of Runarsson.
Arsenal not interested in Aouar
Arsenal are no longer interested in signing French international Houssem Aouar according to transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano.
The Gunners have been heavily linked to the 23-year-old and Fabrizio Romano previously reported on the “Don Robbie” podcast that Arsenal and Tottenham were both interested in signing Aouar in a deal that could be completed on deadline day.
He was linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium last summer, but the Gunners were eventually priced out of a deal as Lyon were reportedly demanding £53million.
A transfer looked more likely this summer as Get French Football News reported that Lyon are willing to let Aouar leave on a loan deal with an obligation to buy next summer.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles banished from first team
Arsenal have reportedly banished Ainsley Maitland-Niles from first-team training after he failed to secure a move away according to The Mirror
The 24-year-old had been linked with a loan move to Everton but this was blocked as Arteta wants to keep him in his plans.
This led to Maitland-Niles uploading a social media post expressing his desire to leave the club as he doesn’t feel wanted and needs to play.
The Englishman and Arteta reportedly had a meeting the day after this post which concluded in Maitland-Niles not being allowed to train with the first team.
Alexandre Lacazette will not sign a new contract
Alexandre Lacazette looks to set to leave the club next summer as he does not plan on renewing with the club according to football.london’s Chris Wheatley.
The 30-year-old’s contract is set to expire next summer and he was available for a transfer in this window but no club has so far put in an offer.
Arsenal signed the Frenchman from Lyon in 2017 in what was a £50m deal and he has gone on to score 66 goals in 172 appearances.
