Arsenal have suffered a significant double blow in the summer transfer window, missing out on long-term target Morgan Rogers to Chelsea and seeing Serhou Guirassy's £34 million release clause expire.
Morgan Rogers chooses Chelsea over Arsenal
Arsenal's pursuit of Morgan Rogers has come to a sudden halt after Chelsea hijacked the deal, agreeing a whopping £117 million fee with Aston Villa. According to The Athletic, Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso was instrumental in convincing the England international to move to Stamford Bridge instead of the Emirates, despite Arsenal being the reigning Premier League champions.
Aston Villa had placed a £130 million valuation on Rogers, but Chelsea will ultimately pay £117 million to bring the former Manchester City youth product to west London. A medical is scheduled for Monday after Rogers returns from the World Cup.
Serhou Guirassy's release clause expires
Borussia Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy has been a target for Arsenal for some time. However, his £34 million (€40 million) release clause expired on July 15, leaving Mikel Arteta without a cheaper option to secure the 30-year-old. If Arsenal proceed with a move, they may now have to pay a significantly higher fee.
Arsenal have already secured three summer signings: Piero Hincapie, Illan Meslier, and Christos Tzolis, the latter arriving after Leandro Trossard left for Besiktas. Currently, Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Jesus are Arsenal's striker options, with Jesus continually linked with an exit.
The Gunners are also preparing for the new Premier League season as defending champions, with Arteta hoping to successfully retain the title. Several Arsenal players are still representing their countries at the World Cup, including David Raya, Mikel Merino, and Martin Zubimendi, who will face Argentina in the final on Sunday.
