Arsenal Transfer News: Gunners' Summer Shortlist and Window Review
BBC Homepage
Skip to content
Accessibility Help
Your account
Home
News
Sport
... (rest of the BBC Sport menu)
Arsenal had more than 20 players on shortlist to capitalise on title win
Published: 5 September 2026
Image source: Getty Images
By Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent
Going into the summer transfer window as Premier League champions, hope sprang eternal for Arsenal. An opportunity to capitalise, encouraged by a sense at Emirates Stadium that their competitors were in transition due to managerial instability. If ever there was a moment to strike in recruitment, this was it. The plans were ambitious: a shortlist with more than 20 players on it. They were targets at Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, even at Chelsea and Tottenham.
But as the window shut on Tuesday night, you could not escape the sense of unfulfillment - certainly from a section of supporters.
Arsenal's close season was one characterized by some unquestionable successes, but also riddled by difficulties and frustration. Ahead of their home match against Chelsea on Sunday, BBC Sport details Arsenal's transfer window and whether manager Mikel Arteta, sporting director Andrea Berta, and, perhaps most pertinently, owners Kroenke Sports Entertainment can deem their summer operation a success.
Why Bruno Guimaraes was the main focus
Arsenal's most eye-catching signing: Bruno Guimaraes’ £75m capture from Newcastle United.
Heading into the summer, Arsenal were keeping abreast of Guimaraes' situation at Newcastle, although others were considered a higher priority. For instance, their interest in Elliot Anderson was widely reported, but it was clear the England international was joining Manchester City.
Guimaraes’ former Newcastle team-mate Sandro Tonali and Bournemouth's Alex Scott were also among the midfielders explored before a move for the South American accelerated. At 26 and 23 respectively, Tonali and Scott are younger than Guimaraes, who turns 29 in November. But numerous factors - including availability and price (Tonali joined Spurs for a minimum £92m) - made their signings difficult.
Aston Villa’s Amadou Onana was also among the options considered, but the Belgium international suffered a serious knee injury at the World Cup.
By mid-June, Guimaraes, who had universal backing inside the Emirates, emerged as the club's primary focus. Berta knew the player's camp well and Guimaraes was admired by Arteta, who had made it clear he wanted proven talent to take his starting XI - rather than the wider squad - to greater heights. Berta used his strong relationship with Guimaraes' representatives to facilitate Arsenal's move, hence why Newcastle maintained they had had no direct contact from the London club until days before his move was completed. It is not uncommon for Berta to lean on intermediaries to conduct negotiations, although the approach has had varying degrees of success.
For instance, Arsenal actively sought moves for Leicester City teenagers Jeremy Monga and Louis Page over the summer. But sources insist that the lack of club-to-club discussions meant both players ultimately did not join Arsenal.