Transfers Arsenal failed to complete – £275m haul including prolific striker and Euros ace

Arsenal’s transfer window dealings were astute. But they didn’t address a crucial area that could have given Mikel Arteta an edge in the title race.

The Gunners bolstered nearly every position on the field during the summer window. They recruited commanding defender Riccardo Calafiori and midfield powerhouse Mikel Merino, while also finalising the permanent acquisition of David Raya and securing a loan deal for his new back-up, Bournemouth’s Neto. Raheem Sterling was a last-minute wide addition, but it was anticipated that significant reinforcements up front would be required this summer.

Their 1-1 stalemate with Brighton, notwithstanding Declan Rice’s red card, suggested their squad is still missing something – possibly a top-tier striker. Here, we examine the deals that the Gunners failed to secure this window, including that big-money move for a forward and the fleeting chase of Euro 2024 star Nico Williams.

Nico Williams

Williams wreaked havoc on defences at the Euros this summer, registering two goals and one assist in Spain’s triumphant tournament. That included netting the opener in the final against England.

As expected, this earned him accolades across Europe, and Arsenal were reportedly poised to make a move for him. Reports suggested that the 22-year-old rapidly became the Gunners’ main target, and they were ready to tempt him away from Athletic Club.

The Gunners faced stiff competition for his signature, particularly from Barcelona. However, before the Catalan giants could make a move, the young winger made up his mind.

Williams committed to another season in the Basque Country. The contract he signed last year has him tied down until 2027 and reportedly raised his release clause to £60m.

Arteta therefore turned to a more affordable option in Sterling when searching for a new winger to boost his team’s title challenge. Interestingly, they were again linked with a last-minute deadline day move for Williams despite the player openly stating his intention to stay in La Liga.

Joan Garcia

With Aaron Ramsdale desiring regular first-team action and Raya firmly holding onto the number one spot, Arsenal started their hunt for a back-up goalkeeper this summer. Espanyol’s Garcia emerged as a top contender, and negotiations were moving along nicely.

Personal terms were also said to have been settled. However, both sides couldn’t agree on Garcia’s price tag, with the Spanish club allegedly demanding £26m and the Gunners refusing to go beyond their £16m bid.

This disagreement ultimately derailed any deal for the 23-year-old, leading to the decision to settle for Bournemouth’s Neto, who has joined on a loan deal to temporarily plug the gap.

Viktor Gyokeres

Sporting CP’s goal-scoring Swede was among several top strikers who reportedly caught Arsenal’s attention this window as Arteta sought to find the final piece of their jigsaw. Gyokeres, who only joined the Portuguese side last summer, has been in fine form, netting 29 goals in his debut season and maintaining a similar scoring rate this term.

A move for the 26-year-old seemed plausible, with his £86.5m release clause reportedly open to negotiation. Sporting even paid a fee to Gyokeres’ former club, Coventry City, to reduce the sell-on fee they would receive if the player were sold.

However, Arsenal didn’t act on any alleged interest and let the transfer window close without formally approaching Gyokeres, leaving Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz to lead the line until at least January.

Ivan Toney

Arsenal were rumoured to be considering a move for unsettled England star Toney in January, but failed to secure a deal when the player was valued at £80m. It was anticipated they’d revisit the situation this summer.

But the Gunners hierarchy and Arteta appeared to favour other targets over the 28-year-old – despite some reports suggesting they would make a bid for him – and never made a firm approach during this window. The lack of interest from the Gunners in Toney, coupled with hesitation from other clubs, resulted in the striker failing to secure his desired move to a top English club.

As the transfer deadline loomed, Brentford were keen to recoup some funds for their star forward, whose contract was set to expire next year. This led to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli swooping in with a £40m offer for Toney, paying him £400,000-a-week to play in the Middle East.

Alexander Isak

Another player who was rumoured to be on Arsenal’s radar was Newcastle’s Isak. The Gunners had reportedly shown interest in the Swedish striker during his time at Real Sociedad, but baulked at his release clause.

However, they seemed to be considering him again this summer. Speculation began when Newcastle’s financial predicament became apparent: they needed to offload players to comply with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules. This effectively put all of their top players up for sale, including Isak.

But as Newcastle managed to balance their books through other means, they no longer felt the need to sell and aimed to keep the Swedish star. With Isak’s value reportedly exceeding £100m, Arsenal couldn’t justify the expenditure and abandoned their pursuit. Isak scored his first goal of the current league season in Newcastle’s 2-1 victory over Tottenham, a sign of more to come.