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With Arsene Wenger finally calling it a day, the upcoming transfer window has attracted extra attention from the Arsenal fan base. The excitement for Wenger's successor to be announced is increasing with each passing day and also the anticipation for the players that the new man in charge will sign.
Arsenal has been linked with numerous players and managers day in day out for the past few weeks. Some rumours raise eyebrows, some seem realistic while some are there just for the sake of it. In this segment, we will take a look a look at all the major advancements that happen in the transfer world concerning Arsenal.
So without further ado, let's take a look at the transfer reports featuring Arsenal that made headlines on May 16:
Mikel Arteta set to become the next Arsenal manager
Independent has reported that the former Arsenal player is extremely close to being appointed as Arsene Wenger's successor. It is reported that the player and the club have had productive meetings with Arteta impressing the club's top brass officials.
Arsenal were reportedly looking for a young manager to take over from Wenger in order to build a long-term project at the Emirates. Arteta has now worked for two years under Pep Guardiola and is rated very highly by a number of his peers.
Mikel Arteta's backroom staff revealed
The same Independent report also states that if or let's say when Mikel Arteta will be given the reigns of managing Arsenal, the Spaniard is set to appoint his former teammate Santi Cazorla as his assistant manager.
According to the Sun, Cazorla is keen on assisting Arteta and is also keen on extending his playing career with the Gunners. He has just returned to the first team squad after missing 19 months of action through chronic Achilles problems.
Along with Cazorla, Arsenal's current assistant coach Steve Bould is set to stay with the club. Meanwhile, Arsenal stars such as Jens Lehmann, Freddie Ljungberg and Per Mertesacker are set to be included in Arteta's backroom staff or the youth set-up.
Arsenal closing in on Caglar Soyuncu
The Gunners have all but identified their first signing of an upcoming eventful summer. The Telegraph has reported that Arsenal are set to pursue a £35 million move for Freiburg defender Caglar Soyuncu.
The 21-year-old central defender is highly rated in Bundesliga and is considered as one of the brightest prospects to have emerged this season. Arsenal's head of recruitment Sven Mislintat is reportedly heading the negotiations for the defender.
Meanwhile, the folks at Football London have further revealed that Soyuncu will force through a move to Arsenal this summer and is keen on making a move to the Premier League.
Arsenal suffer a blow in the chase of Jean-Michael Serri
Despite holding talks with the Nice midfielder, Arsenal are set to lose out on their top transfer target. The Mirror understands that Jean-Michael Serri is now favourites to join Chelsea in the summer.
Serri has long been targeted by the London clubs and is valued at £40 million. He made 30 appearances for Nice this season and bagged 2 goals. But despite Arsenal's interest, Chelsea reportedly have advanced in their negotiations with the 26-year-old Ivorian.
