Arsenal's stunning £380m summer transfer window predicted - including Brighton and Porto deals

It has already been a productive summer transfer window for Mikel Arteta as he prepares Arsenal for another attempt to land a first Premier League title in two decades.

The Gunners have pushed Manchester City all of the way during the last two seasons before falling narrowly short as Pep Guardiola’s men continued their domination of English football’s top tier. However, after an intriguing start to the transfer window, Arteta will be confident his side can challenge once again and go one step further than they have in recent years.

The recent signing of Riccado Calafiori from Bologna has added to the permanent addition of former loan signing David Raya but there is a feeling Arteta’s major business is yet to come, despite already paying out over £60m for his first summer additions. But what else could follow over the final three weeks of the window? We fire up Football Manager 2024, update the Gunners squad with the use of the editor, and see how the world’s most popular managerial simulation predicts the remainder of the window will play out at the Emirates Stadium.

Goalkeepers

There were no departures from the goalkeeping ranks but there was a new arrival as Brighton and Belgium star Bart Verbruggen was captured in a £19m deal and will go into competition with Aaron Ramsdale and David Raya to be Arteta’s first-choice stopper.

Arteta’s goalkeeping options: Raya, Ramsdale, Hein, Verbruggen.

Defenders

There was a major spend in backline for Arteta as he picked up two highly-rated defenders. Firstly, Netherlands wing-back Jeremie Frimpong was secured in a £34m deal from Bundesliga champions and he was followed by Feyenoord defender Lutsharel Geertruida, who cost the Gunners an initial £35m - although that deal could rise to above £42m. The one outgoing deal in the defensive ranks saw Jakub Kiwior return to Serie A with an £18m move to Roma.

Arteta’s defensive options: Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Tierney, White, Tomiyasu, Frimpong, Geertruida.

Midfielders

There were no departures from Arteta’s midfield options but there were two eye-catching signings from the Portuguese League. Firstly, Porto’s Nico Gonzalez made a £40m move to the Emirates Stadium and he was quickly followed by Sporting CP’s Denmark international Morten Hjulmand. Despite interest from Chelsea and Manchester United, Hjulmand agreed a £45m deal and forms part of a highly talented quintet of options for his new manager.

Arteta’s midfield options: Rice, Partey, Jorginho, Gonzalez, Hjulmand.

Forwards

Firstly, the departures, as two academy graduates ventured to pastures new. Eddie Nketiah joined Portuguese giants Benfica and Reiss Nelson remained in the Premier League with Wolves as the duo raked in £27m for the Gunners coffers. Leandro Trossard was also sold as he became the latest player to move to the Saudi Pro League with a £32m move to Al-Ittihad. However, there was one major incoming and, again, it came from Portugal as Arteta won the race for Sporting CP and Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres after a £58m deal was agreed for the former Coventry City frontman.

Arteta’s forward options: Havertz, Vieira, Martinelli, Saka, Jesus, Odegaard, Gyokeres, Nwaneri

Ins

Calafiori (£38m from Bologna), Raya (£26m from Brentford), Gyokeres (£58m from Sporting CP), Hjulmand (£45m from Sporting CP), Gonzalez (£40m from Porto), Geertruida (£35m from Feyenoord), Frimpong (£34m from Bayer Leverkusen), Verbruggen (£19m from Brighton)

Outs

Smith-Rowe (£26m to Fulham), Elneny (free to Al-Jazira), Okonwo (free to Wrexham), Sambi Lokonga (loan to Sevilla), Tavares (loan to Lazio), Soares (released), Kiwior (£18m to Roma), Trossard (£32m to Al-Ittihad), Nelson (£8m to Wolves), Nketiah (£19m to Benfica)