Arsenal’s hunt for a No 9 could be one of the significant stories of a summer that looks likely to feature some significant spending. Miguel Delaney explains the key factors driving the transfer market.

It is a huge summer for Arsenal as they look to get over the hump and avoid another second-placed finish. Will Castle looks at where they can improve and who might need to be moved on:

Arsenal defender Nuno Tavares has completed a permanent transfer to Lazio for a reported £6m, three years after making his last appearance for Mikel Arteta's side.

The 25-year-old moved to the Emirates from Benfica in the summer of 2021 and made 28 appearances in all competitions during his debut season, scoring once in a 3-1 win against Manchester United.

Part of a side that finished fifth, narrowly missing out on qualification for the Champions League and laying the foundations for title challenges that came in the following seasons, he was ultimately deemed surplus to requirements in the face of competition from Oleksandr Zinchenko, who joined in the summer of 2022.

Tavares spent the next three seasons on loan at Marseille, Nottingham Forest and Lazio, with whom he has now signed a three-year deal.

He recorded nine league assists for the Rome side as they finished seventh in Serie A last season and earned his first senior international cap for Portugal in November in a 5-1 Nations League win over Poland.

In a statement, the Gunners said: "Everyone at Arsenal would like to thank Nuno for his contribution to the club and wish him all the best for the future."

Are Manchester City close to securing a left-back? Both Sky Sports and The Telegraph suggest that a fee is set to be agreed with Wolves for Rayan Ait-Nouri, who will cost Pep Guardiola’s side somewhere in the region of £35m. Ait-Nouri’s deal could be done as soon as this weekend.

Chelsea are interested in signing AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan but the two clubs are not close in their valuation of the player.

Milan are expecting a fee in excess of £25m for the stopper, while Chelsea value him at about £10m, given the fact he’s out of contract in 2026.

The Blues are also said to be happy enough with the four goalkeepers currently in the squad if a move doesn’t materialise, so won’t feel pressured to pay over the odds.

Luka Modric has departed Real Madrid but his time at the top level does not seem to be over yet.

AC Milan are increasingly confident they can get a deal for free agent Modric over the line with a verbal agreement almost ready.

That’s according to Fabrizio Romano, who says the Croatian - now a co-owner of Swansea City - will sign on a two-year deal.

Newcastle remain on the hunt for a new goalkeeper as they bid to bring in competition for Nick Pope. Could some-time England colleague James Trafford be the man in question? The Burnley shot-stopper is Eddie Howe’s top target, according to The Times.

The United captain said he wants to carry on playing in the major competitions and said that manager Ruben Amorim kept asking him to remain at Old Trafford.

And Fernandes, who could reportedly could have quadrupled his wages, said his wife and Amorim persuaded him to stay as he preferred to carry on competing for trophies in Europe.

Partey’s contract is set to expire on 30 June, and the defensive midfielder has been linked with Barcelona and Juventus.

The news on Partey’s future came in an update shared by the Premier League runners-up thanking the out-of-contract men’s and women’s players who will be leaving the club at the end of the month.

Italy midfielder Jorginho, who is expected to join Brazilian outfit Flamengo, had already confirmed his exit in a farewell video posted to his Instagram last week, while Tierney is returning to former club Celtic.

Cesc Fabregas’s decision to stay at Como appears to have opened the door to Cristian Chivu taking over the vacancy at Inter Milan. The Independent understands that the Parma manager, who made more than 150 appearances for the club during a fine stint as a player, is the leading contender to become head coach after Simone Inzaghi’s departure.