Nothing going on at the moment’ – Mikel Arteta eager to keep ‘important’ star at Arsenal this summer

Mikel Arteta expects a busy end to the summer transfer window for Arsenal but is eager to keep defender Gabriel Magalhaes at the club.

The Brazilian defender is the latest Premier League star to be linked with a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia with Al-Ittihad reportedly interested in signing him this summer.

The 25-year-old formed an instrumental partnership with William Saliba as Arsenal mounted a title challenge last season but dropped to the bench for his side’s opening Premier League games against Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace.

Ben White started alongside Saliba in both those games but speaking ahead of Arsenal’s game against Fulham on Saturday, Arteta stressed Gabriel remains an important part of his plans.

‘Gabby is really important for us, an important player — there’s nothing going on at the moment,’ Arteta told a press conference on Friday.

Arsenal hope to offload as many as seven more players before the transfer window closes on 1 September.

The club have already moved on Granit Xhaka, Pablo Mari, Auston Trusty and Matt Turner on permanent deals while Runar Alex Runarsson and Marquinhos have left on loan.

Folarin Balogun is also poised to leave on a permanent deal with Arsenal agreeing a £40million deal with Monaco for the USA international.

Chelsea and Tottenham have registered an interest in the striker who scored 21 times last season on loan at Reims but Balogun has little interest at this stage in joining a Premier League rival.

Kieran Tierney meanwhile is also close to an exit with a loan move to Real Sociedad reportedly agreed.

Asked about Arsenal’s outgoing business over the coming weeks, Arteta said: ‘There are some movements happening.

‘The last week is going to be busy – nothing that we can announce at the moment.’

Arsenal have taken six points from their opening two games following narrow wins over Forest and Palace and welcome Fulham to the Emirates on Saturday afternoon.