Arsenal targeted two key Tottenham Hotspur defenders as part of a remarkable 21-player summer transfer shortlist. The list, which the Gunners ultimately did not sign, included Spurs centre-backs Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, with the latter completing a £34m move to Atletico Madrid.
Van de Ven remained with Tottenham and has since signed a new contract. Romero's departure is one factor in a difficult start to the 2026-27 season for Spurs, who sit 18th in the Premier League with just one point from three games. They have yet to score a goal and have conceded five, leaving them eight points behind leaders Manchester City ahead of their next fixtures against Everton.
The two Tottenham stars were prominent names among Arsenal's extensive targets. Micky van de Ven was identified as a potential defensive reinforcement, but the Dutch international opted to stay in north London and commit his future to Spurs. His defensive partner, Cristian Romero, was also on the list before his transfer to La Liga side Atletico Madrid was finalized for a reported £34 million. This comes as Tottenham currently cope with injuries to Wilson Odobert and Xavi Simons.
Arsenal's interest highlights the quality within the Tottenham squad, even as the team seeks to improve its league standings. The failed pursuits show the competitive nature of the transfer market between rival clubs.
Beyond the Tottenham pair, Arsenal's list was packed with elite talent. They engaged in a failed pursuit of Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior. The list also featured Manchester City's Julian Alvarez and Bradley Barcola, who instead signed for Liverpool in a £123m deal. Real Madrid's £120m purchase Yan Diomande was another named target.
Five major additions did arrive at the Emirates at a cost of nearly £200m, including Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle. But the published list reveals a far more ambitious initial scope. Co-chairman Josh Kroenke had signaled this intent, stating, "Right now there are other teams that are already trying to strengthen to come at us for next season."
Several players on Arsenal's wishlist ended up at direct rivals. Most notably, forward Morgan Rogers was pursued by the Gunners but was beaten to his signature by London rivals Chelsea, who paid £117m. Rogers had also been linked with a move to Tottenham and Manchester City.
Other Premier League-based targets included Eli Junior Kroupi and Alex Scott of Bournemouth, and Aston Villa's Amadou Onana. The full 21-name list, as reported, also contained talents from across Europe like Kenan Yildiz of Juventus and Sporting Lisbon's Ivan Fresneda.
Despite the high-profile misses, Arsenal were still active. They recruited Bruno Guimaraes, Ezri Konsa, and Illan Meslier from Newcastle, Aston Villa, and Leeds respectively. Christos Tzolis joined from Club Brugge, and Piero Hincapie's loan from Bayer Leverkusen was made permanent. The decision to sign Guimaraes was reportedly influenced by his availability and age compared to other options like Sandro Tonali.
The club's record signing remains the £105m acquisition of Declan Rice from West Ham in 2023. Manager Mikel Arteta commented on the window's work, saying, "Yeah, 100 per cent ticked." The club also saw a late approach for Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez by representative Gabriel Heinze rebuffed. Tottenham Hotspur will look to get their season on track when they host Everton, who are 8th, on September 12th.
