Bid rejected for Monga, but Arsenal aren't done
Leicester have turned down Arsenal's opening bid for Jeremy Monga. The 16-year-old winger is wanted by Brentford too, but Arsenal are expected to return with an improved offer (4). The club's push for young talent is no secret, Andrea Berta is leading a recruitment drive that spans multiple positions and age brackets.
N'Guessan: the latest name in the forward search
Arsenal are among seven clubs tracking Djylian N'Guessan, the ASSE striker turning heads this summer. Chelsea, Manchester United, PSG, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Tottenham are also watching (1). He is 18 and scoring freely in Ligue 2. The competition is fierce, but your club's scouting network has been on him for months.
Bouaddi race: Arsenal out in front
Arsenal are ahead of PSG and Chelsea in the pursuit of Ayyoub Bouaddi. The 18-year-old Lille midfielder has been one of Morocco's standouts at the World Cup, and Fabrizio Romano confirmed direct contacts have been made (5). Gabriel was seen chatting with him after a Morocco match. That can't hurt.
Manzambi impresses, Odegaard succession takes shape
Johan Manzambi is making his case. The Freiburg midfielder delivered a standout performance for Switzerland and Arsenal held talks as far back as March (2). He is viewed internally as a long-term successor to Martin Odegaard, a player who can dictate tempo and arrive late in the box. Nothing is close, but the groundwork is laid.
Bartishvili: Georgian winger on the radar
Arsenal are preparing a formal offer for Andria Bartishvili, the 18-year-old Georgian winger currently at Iberia 1999. Napoli and Rubin Kazan are circling too (3). The club see him as part of a wider bet on elite teenage wide talent, alongside the Monga pursuit, with Berta driving the strategy.
Barcola wants out, Arsenal watching
Bradley Barcola has asked to leave PSG and Arsenal are monitoring the situation (4). He is 23, quick, and direct. The timing aligns with your club's search for wide reinforcements, though no bid has been lodged yet.
Tzolis: Arteta has made the call
Mikel Arteta has spoken directly to Christos Tzolis. The Greek winger, now at Club Brugge after leaving Norwich, wants the move, but Chelsea and Manchester United are in the race (6). He is being lined up as a Gabriel Martinelli replacement if the Brazilian moves on this summer. Serie A clubs are also sniffing around.
Palestra interest cools as rivals lead
Arsenal remain interested in Marco Palestra, the Atalanta right-back seen as cover for the injury-prone Ben White. But Chelsea and Manchester City are currently ahead (7). The Italian is valued at over £40m. That price may push Arsenal toward alternative targets.
Alex Scott: monitoring, not moving yet
Arsenal are considering a move for Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott, but he is expected to stay on the south coast for now (8). The club have been tracking him since his Bristol City days. A future bid is not ruled out.
Fan-reaktioner
The rejected Monga bid has split opinion. Some fans are frustrated the club lowballed the opening offer, others point out he is 16 and the deal was never going to be straightforward. A separate thread on the first three fixtures of next season is doing the rounds, and the Bartishvili pursuit has sparked genuine excitement. Monga thread