Arsenal chief Edu still has nine deals to do after Rice and Timber signings

Arsenal have been keen to get their business done early in terms of improving Mikel Arteta’s squad and sporting director Edu Gaspar has pulled off something of a coup to land both Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber. The Gunners have splashed the cash with around £200million in total spent on Kai Havertz, Rice and Timber as the young pair prepare to be announced as new Arsenal players. But as far as Edu’s job goes, the hard work has only just begun.

The Brazilian has proved to be a shrewd operator in the transfer market, a fair and realistic negotiator without paying over the odds for players. Some may argue Havertz’s £65m fee is excessive, but the ex-Chelsea star won the Blues the Champions League and at 24 still has his peaks years ahead of him.

The same can certainly be said for Rice and Timber as they edge closer to officially joining the club. Arsenal are paying £100m plus another £5m for the West Ham captain, who has the potential to develop into one of the most complete midfielders in the world, and his status as an indispensable member of England’s national team setup proves it.

As for Timber, the £40m deal to bring in the centre-back could prove to be another masterstroke from Edu as he is only 22 and has already become a well-established Netherlands international. But, as ever, Arsenal do not have a limitless pot of money to fund their transfers – and it will be up to Edu to offload any dead wood while still topping up the club coffers.

The biggest income is likely to come from selling Granit Xhaka and it is understood Bayer Leverkusen have agreed to pay £21.5m for the Swiss star, who turns 31 next month. That is exceptional business, given Rice will slot into the midfield alongside Martin Odegaard and Havertz.

At the back, Timber’s arrival means that Rob Holding could be forced to look elsewhere for another club. The 27-year-old is exploring his options amid interest from Besiktas and Celtic last month, and the 27-year-old will command a decent fee to help ease the financial burden of their spending.

There is a host of loan players who look set to leave as they are currently unwanted by Arteta. Nuno Tavares, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Nicolas Pepe spent last season with Marseille, Crystal Palace and Nice respectively and they are still attractive propositions for other clubs in the market. But they are likely to fetch lower fees than what Arsenal paid for them, something Edu may have learned from earlier in his role as transfer chief.