Arsenal to gazump Manchester United to major target in their summer spending spree: report

Arsenal and Manchester United managers Mikel Arteta and Erik ten Hag respectively look on during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal FC at Old Trafford on September 04, 2022 in Manchester, England.
(Image credit: Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Arsenal could be set to beat Manchester United to a major target this summer as free-spending Mikel Arteta continues his summer spree.

The Gunners have already tied up moves for Kai Havertz, Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber to take spending to around the £200 million mark, with outgoings now the focus. Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka and Folarin Balogun could all depart the Emirates Stadium.

Manchester United, meanwhile, have signed Mason Mount but missed out on Kim Min-jae to Bayern Munich, according to Fabrizio Romano – and now could lose another major target to Arsenal.

Mason Mount of Manchester United poses after signing for the club at Carrington Training Ground on July 05, 2023 in Manchester, England.

Mason Mount has joined Manchester United, putting to bed a long-running saga (Image credit: Manchester United/Manchester United via Getty Images)

BILD in Germany have reported that the Gunners are eyeing Bayer Leverkusen full-back Jeremie Frimpong for their side, with Arteta said to be keen on another right-back as cover on either side.

Frimpong certainly fits the bill as a player able to operate on either flank, though United have been linked in the past. Earlier on this year another German outlet, Kicker, reported that the Dutchman was on Erik ten Hag's radar. 

Intriguingly, Ivan Fresneda of Real Valladolid has been linked as Leverkusen's potential replacement for the full-back – another player that Arsenal have interest in.

Frimpong might not be seen as a priority at Old Trafford this summer despite Ten Hag's appreciation of the player, given that he has both Diogo Dalot and Aaron Wan-Bissaka at his disposal at right-back.

Bayer Leverkusen defender Jeremie Frimpong controls the ball during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen on 6 August, 2022 at Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany

Bayer Leverkusen defender Jeremie Frimpong is on Arsenal's radar (Image credit: DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

Arsenal are believed to also be in the market for another central midfielder on top of Declan Rice. 

Frimpong is valued at around €40 million by Transfermarkt

More Arsenal and Manchester United stories

Arsenal transfer news and Manchester United transfer news is doing the rounds as deals begin to get completed.

Jurrien Timber looks to be next to joinMoises Caicedo is heavily linkedXavi Simons is on the radarIvan Fresneda could join, though Arsenal could sell £100m worth of players, too. Romeo Lavia is in the crosshairs – though Liverpool want him, too

Erik Ten Hag wants a new striker. Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund has been linked with a £40m move, while Mohammed Kudus would cost as much, too. Incredibly, Neymar has been linked as well

Mark White
Content Editor

Mark White is the Digital Content Editor at FourFourTwo. During his time on the brand, Mark has written three cover features on Mikel Arteta, Martin Odegaard and the Invincibles, and has written pieces on subjects ranging from Sir Bobby Robson’s time at Barcelona to the career of Robinho. An encyclopedia of football trivia and collector of shirts, he first joined the team back in 2020 as a staff writer.