Stan Kroenke can end Jack Grealish Man City nightmare by approving Arsenal deal

It could be a busy few months behind the scenes at Arsenal with a number of players expected to depart Emirates Stadium.

Albert Sambi Lokonga, Nuno Tavares, Kieran Tierney, Emile Smith Rowe, Aaron Ramsdale, Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson are just some of the players who could move on this summer. If that happens, Mikel Arteta will be keen to sign replacements with the Gunners expected to challenge on all fronts next season.

Sporting director Edu revealed in February that the club “already have our targets” for the summer, with meticulous planning going into every potential signing. “I think if you see the type of the players we have at the moment, it’s players which have a big, big commitment of [to] the club, which is very important,” Edu told TNT Sports.

“So the way we transmit to the fans, transmit to people our commitment – sometimes you can lose, you can win games, it’s all part of the sport – helps us perform the best way possible and show the passion we have for the club and try to be win as many games as we can. Many times in certain conversations to recruit the players you don’t see the character of the player or the character of the player does not fit well with what we are trying to do and then you have to move on and try to find what we’re really looking for.

“If you see all the signings we’ve made since we started together, everyone is almost the same, young, energetic and passionate, and good talents with big, beautiful futures ahead of them.” football.london understands the Gunners are interested in signing a forward this summer, more likely someone who can play a number of positions across the front line.

Arteta already has Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli, Nketiah, Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Nelson at his disposal, although Nketiah and Nelson could move on if suitors submit an acceptable offer. Among the players linked with a move to Emirates Stadium are Benjamin Sesko, Alexander Isak, Joshua Zirkzee and Brian Brobbey, although Edu is also likely to have targets in mind who have not yet been made public.

READ MORE: Mikel Arteta can field dream Arsenal line-up if Stan Kroenke sanctions £260m double deal

READ MORE: Arsenal get massive Alexander Isak transfer boost as Newcastle miss out on significant windfall

One player who Arsenal could look to sign this window is Manchester City star Jack Grealish. The 28-year-old was admired by the Gunners when he was at Aston Villa, before he made a £100million move to City in 2021. It was reported at the time that City won the race to sign Grealish because Arsenal were unable to offer the same sort of money, while the north Londoners not being in Europe at that stage and very much still building under Arteta were also considered stumbling blocks.

Three years on, however, and things have very much changed. Arsenal are back in the Champions League, have challenged for the Premier League in consecutive seasons and are in a position to compete with the ‘big boys’ when it comes to player incomings and wages. Declan Rice’s arrival for £105million last summer is evidence of this progression, as is the signings in recent seasons of Havertz and Jesus.

Grealish has had a frustrating season at Etihad Stadium, contributing three goals and three assists in 36 appearances (2,114 minutes). That’s a huge drop off compared to the 2022/23 season, where the England international featured 50 times (3,486 minutes), scoring five and assisting 11 more.

Now valued at £55million according to transfermarkt, Grealish is a player capable of taking Arsenal to the next level and would also offer his winning experience, having won the Premier League three times in three seasons. City also do not stand in the way of players leaving the Etihad Stadium should a suitable bid come in and the player expresses a desire to move on.

Of course, a move to Arsenal is probably unlikely this summer, but a deal can never be ruled out completely. Gunners owner Stan Kroenke will be keen to give Edu the funds to improve the squad over the transfer window and splashing the cash on Grealish may not be the worst idea.