Arsenal return to Premier League action today as they face Leeds United at home. Mikel Arteta will hope the three-week international break has served his players well as they look to bounce back from a 3-0 defeat at Brighton in September. That was the Premier League champions' first loss of the season, having won all seven previous games across all competitions.
After Leeds, fixtures come thick and fast for the Gunners, who host Lille in the Champions League on Tuesday. Arsenal will hope to secure all three points against Leeds as they look to keep pace with league leaders Manchester City, who have dominated headlines in recent weeks after being found guilty of 114 financial breaches - a decision they have since appealed and have always maintained their innocence over.
Arsenal set for transfer windfall
Arsenal could receive a transfer windfall if former striker Folarin Balogun makes a January move to Juventus. The Monaco forward was meant to join Everton in a £38.5m transfer in the summer, but following his deadline day medical, the USMNT star decided against the move and returned to Monaco.
He has made just one appearance for the Ligue 1 side this season, though Serie A giants Juventus are now circling ahead of a potential January bid. According to Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport, Balogun is one of three options Juve are considering, with Nick Woltemade struggling since his loan move from Newcastle in the summer. Juve are understood to be 'concerned' with Woltemade, who has scored just once in four appearances.
If Juve opt to sign Balogun, Arsenal could receive a hefty windfall, depending on the transfer fee. The 25-year-old, who spent 15 years at Arsenal and left in 2023, had a 17.5% sell-on clause inserted in his Monaco contract after sealing his £34.3m move.
Arteta learns price of Gyokeres 'replacement'
Arsenal have been told that Inter Milan forward Pio Esposito will cost more than £85m. The north Londoners have been looking at players who can bolster their front-line in recent months, having been linked with the likes of Eli Junior Kroupi and Julian Alvarez.
Their interest and unsuccessful attempts to land a No.9 suggests a lack of faith in Viktor Gyokeres, who is currently being used as a bench option by Arteta, with Kai Havertz being preferred as a starter for important games. Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport claim Arsenal made an approach during the summer to Inter to find out more details about the possibility of signing the 21-year-old.
However, Inter's chief executive, Beppe Marotta, is reported to have informed Arsenal that even an offer worth €100m (£84.7m) would not be enough to sign Esposito. Whether Arsenal will test Inter's resolve in January or next summer remains to be seen, but any offer will need to be substantial.
It's claimed that Esposito's market value has significantly increased since the striker signed a new contract in September, which runs until the summer of 2032. The forward impressed during his Champions League cameo against the Gunners last season too. If they do opt to sign the Italy international for such a lofty fee, Gyokeres would likely fall further down the pecking order, potentially paving the way for his exit. The £64m Swede helped Arsenal end their 22-year wait for a league title last term with 14 goals, but his all-round play left much to be desired.
