Arsenal Pursues Real Madrid Rodrygo, Ex-Man City Laporte Amid Midfield, Defense Shifts

Arsenal are actively pursuing significant squad reinforcements this summer to break their trophy drought and strengthen key positions. The Gunners have shown genuine interest in Real Madrid winger Rodrygo Goes, with exploratory talks since May and a reported asking price of around €90 million, as Arsenal looks to add goals and creativity following a third consecutive second-place Premier League finish. Additionally, Arsenal have targeted former Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte, who currently plays for Al Nassr, to bolster their defensive depth amid injury concerns. Meanwhile, versatile Arsenal player Oleksandr Zinchenko has attracted interest from West Ham United, AC Milan, and Atletico Madrid, with Arsenal valuing him at €15 million amid a reduced role this past season. Manager Mikel Arteta is prioritizing the signing of an elite winger and a center-forward, alongside defensive reinforcements like Laporte and Lille’s Alexsandro, aiming to convert their near misses into major trophies next season. These moves reflect Arsenal's strategic intent to enhance squad quality across multiple positions after falling short domestically and in Europe last season.