Mikel Arteta has told Arsenal fans that there is more to come as he prepares to close a deal that will see Oleksandr Zinchenko become the fifth signing at the club this summer.
The Gunners have been splashing out once again as they look to bolster their squad ahead of a long campaign next season when they will enter the Europa League. But the Champions League remains the ultimate ambition and the money has been spent lavishly to achieve that goal.
That includes the marvellous coup of Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City after Arteta made the Brazilian his top transfer target with a striker familiar with the Premier League sought after. But he is not the only Etihad ace on his way after a deal was agreed to sign Zinchenko for a fee of around £30million.
The Ukraine international will arrive to bolster Arsenal 's midfield options while also being able to be deployed at left-back should Kieran Tierney's injury woes rear up again. But while over £100m looks set to be spent already in north London, there are no suggestions that Arsenal will quell their spending. Arteta has admitted that further signings could be made after revealing that there are still areas of the squad he wants to improve.
He told the club's official website: "We’re in the market to keep improving the squad but there are so many parties involved and sometimes things don’t happen as quickly as you want.”
A midfielder is likely next on the shortlist, and Leicester star Youri Tielemans has been heavily linked throughout the transfer window. The failed attempt to sign Raphinha is evidence that a wide forward is also high on the wish list amid rumours that Bayern Munich ace Leroy Sane could be eyed.
And while Jesus has proved an instant hit during pre-season, there are suggestions that Arteta could eye another forward having lost Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in recent times. Whether a massive bid can be placed on one remains to be seen but it might depend on how many exits there are at the Emirates over the coming weeks.
Arteta could sell the likes of Bernd Leno, Lucas Torreira and Hector Bellerin but will have to find a buyer soon, something the Spaniard has struggled to do in his time in charge.
He added: "Every player that is contracted by the club is treated in the same way, and everybody said on day one that this is a clean sheet to start to build what they want to build at this football club. Then we have to make decisions in relation to their needs and the levels that they show.”
