Report: Director has just convinced Arsenal to pay around £300,000 extra for signing, deal will now go through

Arsenal have just been made to spend a bit of extra cash to ensure one transfer goes through without any hitches.

The Gunners are currently working on multiple deals – having already secured the signing of David Raya on a permanent basis from Brentford – as a move for Bologna No.33 Riccardo Calafiori is also in the pipeline.

Now, another signing is close to being sealed, although only because Arsenal have agreed to pay more…

Arsenal made to pay thousands more to sign Tommy Setford

A story from De Telegraaf in the Netherlands now claims that Arsenal have agreed personal terms with Ajax wonderkid Tommy Setford.

The Dutch news outlet explain that Arsenal recently made a £400,000 bid for the 18-year-old, which was already tempting Ajax, given the fact the teenager only has 12 months left on his contract.

However, De Telegraaf state that Alex Kroes – Technical Director at Ajax – has managed to squeeze a ‘few hundred thousand euros extra’ out of Arsenal in recent days, and the deal is now set to go through.

De Telegraaf add that Arsenal hope to announce Setford’s arrival this week – which aligns with an earlier story from Charles Watts, who said that the Gunners are expected to reveal the news shortly.

The England U19 international has agreed a contract with Arsenal that runs until July 2028.

Edu should find a loan move for the 18-year-old

As Aaron Ramsdale has experienced, dislodging Raya from the No.1 spot at Arsenal is not easy, and the chances of an unproven 18-year-old doing that anytime soon seem very, very slim.

Of course, the precociously talented Setford will hone his talents in Hale End anyway, although it may be more beneficial for Arsenal to find the Haarlem-born glovesman a loan move to an English Football League side for next season, which could speed up his development.

Setford already has Raya, Ramsdale – who is likely to leave Arsenal this summer – and Karl Hein ahead of him, so the chances of any senior action in the domestic cup competitions is unlikely, making a loan the most sensible option.

Be sure to keep an eye on this situation, as Arsenal are expected to announce the goalkeeper’s arrival soon.