Riccardo Califiori from Bologna and David Raya, who has made his loan deal from Brentford permanent, have been the Gunners’ only signings so far.
The absence of huge Saudi Pro League cash in the transfer system and the issues surrounding the Ligue 1 TV deal have led to a lack of liquidity in the market.
More concretely, Arsenal have been heavily linked with £20m-valued Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino, who has less than a year remaining on his contract.
It is believed that the North London club are in advanced talks with the Basque Country outfit, with a fee for the Spain international still not agreed.
However, one expert has suggested that one claim relating to Merino from transfer guru Fabrizio Romano is well wide of the mark.
Arsenal have no PSR issues, says expert
Late last week, Romano suggested that Arsenal were progressing in talks to sign Merino but that the structure of the deal would be key due to financial fair play (PSR/FFP) concerns.
However, finance expert and former Man City adviser Stefan Borson posted on X: “This is nonsense. Arsenal have no PSR issues.”
View Tweet
In the replies to his post, Borson insisted Arsenal have “big PSR capacity” and that the perception that David Raya’s permanent move to Arsenal had been delayed as a result of PSR was a “total myth.”
Looking at the Gunners’ accounts – as well as analysis from fellow financial experts Kieran Maguire, Swiss Ramble and more – it is hard to disagree.
Premier League clubs are allowed to lose £105m over a rolling three-year period.
Arsenal lost £52.1m in 2022-23, but PSR-deductible expenses will have softened that blow considerably when it comes to their final calculation.
Their return to the Champions League in 2023-24 will have bolstered their PSR capacity, while the expensive signings of Declan Rice and Kai Havertz are amortised over five years.
In 2024-25 meanwhile, commercial income is expected to surpass the £200m barrier – potentially by quite a margin.
That will further insulate them from any anxieties around PSR.
What is Arsenal’s transfer budget this summer?
Arsenal can likely post a £50-80m loss and remain compliant with Premier League PSR this coming season.
UEFA’s rules have a lower loss limit than the Premier League and a squad cost ratio that is set at 80 per cent for 2024-25, but Arsenal should be fine in this category too.
The sales of Emile Smith Rowe to Fulham, plus the potential exits of Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson, all count as pure profit under PSR due to their academy status.
That gives Arsenal even more headroom to spend big – with the significant caveat that the Kroenke regime would need to bankroll any financial losses incurred as a result.
0 Comments