Arsenal remain optimistic about securing the long-term futures of Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman, despite growing interest from several Premier League clubs.
18-year-old Nwaneri, has been the subject of serious interest from Chelsea, who are prepared to offer the England youth international a contract longer than six years, a deal structure favoured by the Blues as a way to stay within the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules.
Nwaneri has just 12 months left on his current deal and has attracted significant interest from Enzo Maresca's side, although sources close to the club suggest they are confident he will extend his stay, with manager Mikel Arteta personally pushing for a renewal.
Arteta sees Nwaneri as a central part of his long-term project and is eager to secure his signature, while the Gunners continue to pursue attacking targets in the transfer market including Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke.
A deal for Eze would cost in excess of £60million and Arsenal are looking at including players in the proposed transfer in order to reduce the total fee.
Sporting director Andrea Berta is currently exploring deals on multiple fronts, although Arsenal's valuation of Madueke is said to be far from Chelsea's suggested price.
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Meanwhile, 15-year-old Max Dowman is attracting interest from multiple top clubs after a standout campaign at youth level.
The England youth international will be part of Arsenal's pre-season tour and is expected to feature in domestic cup competitions this season. He has trained regularly with the first team and is highly rated by staff at Hale End.
Dowman wants to stay at Arsenal and talks are already underway over him signing a pre-professional contract when he turns 16 in December.
The Gunners are also in talks with William Saliba over a new long-term deal that would bring his wages in line with the club’s top earners, including Bukayo Saka.
Real Madrid remain interested and are targeting a move in the summer of 2026, having opened informal discussions through intermediaries.
Meanwhile, a deal for Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres is likely to be finalised before Arsenal's summer pre-season tour.
The striker has agreed personal terms and only wants to join Arsenal, rejecting the chance to sign for Manchester United and turning down enquiries from multiple European sides.
Discussions are ongoing over whether the remaining €5 million ($5.8m) will be included in the base fee or as bonuses.
Those close to the deal say it's at an advanced stage and expect the financial issues to be resolved in the coming days.