Arsenal transfer news: Domagoj Vida move fails to materialise after Ousmane Dembele laughs off Barca rumours
A full round-up of Arsenal's transfer deadline day
As expected Arsenal decided against adding to their squad on transfer deadline day, as Unai Emery finalises his preparations for the new Premier League season.
There was no late deal for Croatia international Domagoj Vida, while earlier in the day Ousmane Dembele laughed off speculation he could quit Barcelona for London.
It was a busier day in terms of outgoings, with 29-year-old forward Lucas Pérez ending his two year association with the club with a cut-price deal to West Ham.
And the likes of David Ospina, Joel Campbell and Danny Welbeck could yet move abroad. Here’s a full round-up of Arsenal’s day.
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Danny Welbeck is another Arsenal striker who has been told he is surplus to requirements by Unai Emery.
The 27-year-old was even given an extended holiday after returning from World Cup duty with England, despite only playing 11 minutes.
Southampton are leading the race for his signature, although his high wages could prove prohibitive.
Jack Pitt-Brooke reports:
Leicester City are closing in on the signing of the very talented Turkish centre-back Caglar Soyuncu from Freiburg today. Arsenal had a deal lined up to sign Soyuncu from two months ago but The Independent has learned that they tried to lower the fee and when Freiburg did not agree, Arsenal walked away from the deal. That frustrated Soyuncu, who wanted to join Arsenal, and Freiburg themselves who were banking on the money. But Leicester City have provided an alternative solution right at the end of the window.
This has been a very positive transfer window for Arsenal, with a number of problem positions finally addressed by Sven Mislintat and co, but news of the impending Stan Kroenke takeover has rather soured the mood at the club ahead of the new season.
Here’s something on why Arsenal should try their hardest to retain that feeling of positivity ahead of their opening match of the 2018/19 campaign, against reigning champions Manchester City.
West Ham director of football Mario Husillos has elaborated on why the club decided to sign Lucas Pérez from Arsenal.
“He [Perez] is a very experienced player that Manuel and I both know well from Spain,” Husillos said.
“He has great technical quality, and can play as both the main striker or the second striker in a deeper role. He scores goals, but can also create them and link well with the midfielders.
“His style is different from the other strikers we have available to us, and that gives the manager more options for our attacking play.
“Lucas also has experience of the Premier League with Arsenal, and is familiar with life here in London, which of course means that he will take less time to adapt and be ready.
“From the very first meeting I had with Lucas, he made it very clear that he wanted to come to West Ham United and, for us, this is very important. We wish him every success during his time here.”
Arsenal have been actively exploring the possibility of signing Domagoj Vida from Besiktas before the end of the transfer window, but the chances of that move being pushed through ahead of this evening’s deadline currently look slim.
Croatian defender Vida, 29, enjoyed a superb World Cup campaign which increased speculation he could leave the Turkish club in a big money move this summer.
Arsenal were quoted £30m by Besiktas for Vida, but the late deal was always dependent on how much money the club could make from outgoings.
So for Arsenal have made just £8.5m this summer through the sales of Lucas Pérez, Chuba Akpom and Jeff Reine-Adélaïde, and with late deals for Danny Welbeck and Joel Campbell having so far failed to materialise, the Vida transfer has very much been put on ice.
If you're on your lunch break, now might be a good time to read our Chief Football Writer Miguel Delaney on what Stan Kroenke's impending takeover could mean for Arsenal's future:
Some news on David Ospina, who has been repeatedly been linked with a move away from Arsenal since the signing of Bernd Leno from Bayer Leverkusen.
There have been a number of reports in Turkey today that Besiktas are close to capturing the keeper on loan, although The Independent understands Arsenal are more interested in a permanent deal for the 29-year-old.
The Italian dailies meanwhile suggest that Napoli are also interested in Ospina, although like Besiktas, they favour a loan.
The transfer window will of course remain open for European teams, so expect this one to run for a few days yet.
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