Arsenal change transfer strategy: Talks held as three summer signings eyed

Arsenal will primarily target young players this summer, with Ayyoub Bouaddi, Igor Tyjon and Victor Valdepenas among the names on Andrea Berta’s shortlist.

The Italian director had a spectacular first window at the Emirates last summer, spending a whopping €295 million on new recruits while only bringing in €11.3m from sales. As a result, Arsenal had the largest net spend in the world.

The January window was comparatively quiet. Oleksandr Zinchenko was sold to Ajax and Ethan Nwaneri joined Marseille on loan. No new first-team signings were made, although Arsenal did bolster their youth ranks with Evan Mooney from St. Mirren and Jaden Dixon from Stoke City.

This has been a trend in recent months. In late 2025, Arsenal announced future transfers for Irish youngster Victor Ozhianvuna and Ecuadorian twins Holger and Edwin Quintero. A deal for 20-year-old Elche midfielder Rodrigo Mendoza was explored, but he has ended up at Atletico Madrid.

According to football.London, the Gunners will continue to primarily target young players this summer. With increasingly stringent financial regulations, it is paramount, even for a club like Arsenal, to sign players with potential resale value.

Arsenal to sign wonderkids

Arsenal have already held discussions with a couple of potential summer targets. Informal talks have taken place with the camp of Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi. Reports in France suggested that the Gunners already wanted him in January, but he instead signed a new contract.

However, almost immediately after his deal was confirmed, Bouaddi admitted that this does not rule out a summer move. It simply puts his club Lille in a more secure position.

In addition to the Frenchman, Arsenal are also expected to return for Blackburn Rovers striker Igor Tyjon, having made two winter bids for the England youth international. The Championship side dug their heels in despite his expiring contract.

However, it is not a given that the 17-year-old will end up moving to North London. He also has plenty of other suitors at home and abroad, including some in his parents’ birth nation of Poland that, unlike Arsenal, are ready to immediately hand him a place in the first team.

The third player known to be on Berta’s summer shortlist is Real Madrid defender Victor Valdepenas, whom Arsenal have been scouting since at least last May. The 19-year-old centre-back hasn’t played for Los Blancos’ first team since being handed his debut as an emergency left-back by Xabi Alonso in December.

The Gunners are also said to be keeping tabs on Brazilian teenager Belinho, who currently plays in Croatia, and Red Star Belgrade midfielder Vasilije Kostov, both of whom are 17.

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