Both are inching closer, according Fabrizio Romano and multiple sources. He claims we have bid €17.5m+€4m in add on's for Sambi Lokonga and a potential 15% sell on fee. We're about to offer €7-8m for Nuno Tavares, but Benfica have set a €15m price tag.
Both of these players are 21, 6 feet tall and are "squad for now, maybe more later" type signings. Sambi Lokonga, a central midfielder, comes highly recommended by Thierry Henry and is highly rated by Anderlecht fans. Nuno Tavares, however, is not well liked within Benfica. He seems to have had a disappointing season along with some ill-received comments about his dissatisfaction with being behind Grimaldo in Benfica's pecking order. A lot of Benfica fans seem to think he's terrible, despite his talent. It's worth remembering that he's a player in Kieran Tierney's position, and at the price we're offering he would not exactly be a signing our season hinges upon.
Along with Ben White, that would see our first three signings be a CB, a back up LB and, arguably, a squad CM. I'd feel a lot more comfortable if our first three signings were a CAM, a starting CM and a Bellerin replacement, but transfers don't always work that way. The profile of all three players speaks to a much wiser transfer strategy than the one we've seen in recent years, and that has to be welcomed.
Romano says we've made contact with Onana, but nothing beyond that yet. Supposedly, we were hoping that his doping ban would have been reduced more than it was.
Update:
@FabrizioRomano
Arsenal and Benfica have an agreement in principle for Nuno Tavares - LB target revelead two days ago. Deal set to be completed for €8m as guaranteed fee + add ons. ⚪️🔴 #AFC
Personal terms [until June 2026] and agents fee agreed. Paperworks still to be signed/completed. 🇵🇹
Nuno Tavares welcome to Arsenal.
Second Update:
@FabrizioRomano
Lokonga deal progressing and ‘close’. Official bid from Arsenal confirmed as reported yesterday - more details:
€17.5m guaranteed fee, €4.5m as potential add ons, 5% future sale percentage [Anderlecht want 15%]. 🇧🇪 #AFC
Lokonga wants Arsenal - personal terms already agreed.
Lokonga welcome to Arsenal.
Sambi Lokonga and Nuno Tavares(Nearly Done)
posted on 29/6/21
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 42 seconds ago
comment by GTWI4T- some people deserve to get trolled (U6008)
posted 32 minutes ago
Are Arsenal really in a position to be able to spend 25 million plus on squad signings when their first 11 has so many holes that need addressing?
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Yes .
Not sure Loki will be just a squad player though.
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If he isn't then we'll need another signing to be the squad player.
posted on 29/6/21
comment by Girøulski Alt-0216 forever (U14971)
posted 5 minutes ago
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 42 seconds ago
comment by GTWI4T- some people deserve to get trolled (U6008)
posted 32 minutes ago
Are Arsenal really in a position to be able to spend 25 million plus on squad signings when their first 11 has so many holes that need addressing?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes .
Not sure Loki will be just a squad player though.
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If he isn't then we'll need another signing to be the squad player.
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Or just use the players we already have.
posted on 29/6/21
We won't though. Half of them are leaving.
posted on 29/6/21
Why are you guys chasing Onana? Is Leno off?
posted on 29/6/21
comment by Tiddles (U17634)
posted 1 minute ago
Why are you guys chasing Onana? Is Leno off?
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Probably after next season, yeah.
posted on 29/6/21
I haven't seen either play, but I've had a good read up on the pair.
Belgian football "experts" are very excited about Lokonga. Defensively strong, and also a good passer and carrier of the ball, too. Anderlecht captain already, and destined to be the linchpin of the Belgian midfield for years to come. From what I've read, he excites me too and, I can't see him coming in to play back up.
Tavares has talent, but a bit of an attitude problem. His problems revolve around being 2nd fiddle at Benfica, which makes me a bit nervous about his attitude to being the same at Arsenal. We don't want to be getting rid of Guen only to be replacing him with another version - personality wise. Maybe he'll get plenty of opportunities to keep him happy if KT's injury record doesn't improve?
All reports are saying we're going to be getting a big budget to spend on 4/5 new first teamers, and two or three squad members. I think we'll be going 433 next season with (if we get them) White & Lokonga coming into the first team, and a new GK, RB & ST too.
No deals are over the line yet, though, and we've all been very disappointed in our previous transfer dealings alot over the years. Let's see what happens, but things are sounding positive at the moment.
posted on 29/6/21
We are probably going to end up spending 100mil plus on around 4-5 players mainly in position we don't need.
We should be spending that 100mil on 2 top quality players.
Have no issue with the anderlecht cm but Ben 1White, some trashy LB and I heard we are after Ramsdale is this some sort of joke.
posted on 29/6/21
We still aren't being seriously linked with any creative players or goalscorers.
posted on 29/6/21
comment by Tiddles (U17634)
posted 11 hours, 1 minute ago
Why are you guys chasing Onana? Is Leno off?
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Hopefully
posted on 30/6/21
We still need to sign some serious players - i.e. Bissouma, Maddison, Isak etc. for this transfer to really get going for us.
These two signings are good, and necessary, but I'm starting to get impatient.
Also for the record I heard Onana has chosen to see out the rest of his contract at Ajax and listen to better offers at the end of next season when he'll be a free agent.