Arsenal agree Chelsea deal and book another medical

Mikel Arteta is finally set to bolster his Arsenal squad (Picture: Getty)

Arsenal have agreed a deal with Chelsea to sign Kepa Arrizabalaga and are in the process of booking a medical for another new signing.

The Gunners have endured a subdued start to the summer transfer window but are now on the verge of strengthening Mikel Arteta’s squad.

Arsenal have been working on a deal for Martin Zubimendi for months and are set to unveil the Spanish midfielder as a new signing next week.

Real Madrid considered hijacking Arsenal’s £55m deal but Zubimendi, Real Sociedad’s best player, is heading to the Emirates Stadium.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano says Arsenal have also agreed a deal to sign fellow Spain international Kepa from London rivals Chelsea.

Arteta needed a new back-up goalkeeper following Neto’s return to Bournemouth and identified ex-Cherries loanee Kepa as his top target.

Kepa flopped at Chelsea after becoming the most expensive goalkeeper in history but has a chance to improve his reputation at Arsenal, though he will only be David Raya’s deputy.

Arsenal are set to sign Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea (Picture: Getty)

Arsenal will pay £5m to sign Kepa, who cost Chelsea £72m in a world-record transfer back in 2018.

An offer of €11million (£9.3m) was made to Brentford on Wednesday and there is a growing confidence within the Emirates Stadium that a deal will be struck.

Norgaard, 31, is believed to be keen on the move and Arsenal are so confident that have already made plans for his medical.

Brentford’s Christian Norgaard is closing in on a move to Arsenal (Picture: Getty)

The Denmark international has been a key member of Thomas Frank’s Brentford over the past six seasons, making 196 appearances for the Bees.

Reports in Denmark suggested Brentford would try to block Norgaard’s departure as he is still viewed as a key member of a squad that will be led by a new manager next season following Frank’s move to Tottenham.

But Arsenal are close to finalising a deal and are finalising advanced details of Norgaard’s contract.

Arteta is targeting a new defensive midfielder as Thomas Partey enters the final week of his contract at the club.

Thomas Partey is set to leave the Emirates Stadium (Picture: Getty)

Partey, 32, was believed to be keen to extend his stay in north London but talks over a new contract have broken down.

Arteta has already lost one midfielder in Jorginho, the ex-Chelsea star who left as a free agent to join Brazilian side Flamengo.

Despite the imminent deals for Kepa, Norgaard and Zubimendi, a top striker is still believed to be Arteta’s priority for this summer’s transfer window.

Talks have been held with Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko. Arsenal showed some interest in Liam Delap before he joined Chelsea for £30m.

Arsenal finished second in the Premier League for the third year in a row last season and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League before being knocked out by eventual winners PSG.

Arteta’s side have already been installed as one of the early favourites to win next season’s Premier League alongside defending champions Liverpool and Manchester City.

Arsenal kick-start their 2025-26 campaign on August 17 against Manchester United before facing Leeds United and Liverpool in a potentially tricky start to the season.

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