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New signings could boost Arsenal’s title hopes

Arsenal’s efforts to strengthen their squad ahead of the 2024/25 Premier League season continue to be thwarted by frustrating delays.

The Gunners have been linked with several players this summer, but have been unable to complete moves for their primary transfer targets.

These include Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori, whose move to the Emirates Stadium has been delayed due to issues outside Arsenal’s control.

Calafiori’s former club Basel are owed 50 percent of the transfer fee on his next move, and Bologna are trying to negotiate a reduction in the clause.

The hold up is undoubtedly frustrating to Arsenal fans who are thinking about betting on their team to win the Premier League title next season.

The Gunners are priced at odds of 37/20 on the sportsbook linked to the betpanda crypto casino to knock reigning champions Manchester City off their perch.

However, bettors are unlikely to part with their hard-earned cash until they know whether Arsenal have been able to get key transfer deals over the line.

Arsenal have also been linked with a double raid on La Liga, with Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino and Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams both linked with the club.

Merino has just one year left on his contract and is available for £20 million, but interest from Barcelona has thrown a spanner into the works.

It is a similar story with Willaims, who manager Mikel Arteta views as the ideal signing to bolster his attacking options on the flanks.

Williams was superb for Spain during the 2024 European Championship, sparking talk that he could join one of Europe’s top clubs this summer.

His contract contains a £49m release clause, which Bilbao want paying in full. This complicates matters for Arsenal due to Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

Eddie Nketiah, Emile Smith Rowe and Reiss Nelson could be sold to raise revenue, but interest in the trio has been fairly thin on the ground.

Arsenal’s bid to sign a prolific striker has also stalled, with the club struggling to finalise a deal for Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres.

The Swedish international has been linked with Napoli, but their interest has reportedly cooled which boosts Arsenal’s hopes of securing his services.

Napoli’s sporting director Giovanni Manna recently described a move for Gyokeres as ‘impossible’ due to Sporting’s excessive demands for the forward.

The 26-year-old’s contract has a release clause of £84m, but the Gunners have been trying to persuade the Portuguese club to accept a lower offer.

Regardless of how the negotiations unfold, the Gunners will need to shift some deadwood from their squad this summer to ensure they do not fall foul of PSR next season.

Having lost out in the title race to Man City in each of the last two seasons, Arsenal need reinforcements if they are to make it third time lucky.

If they can add a little more quality to their ranks, their current title odds could look extremely good value when the season gets underway.

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