Arsenal's Jaw-Dropping 21-Player Transfer Wishlist Almost Sparked Some Stunning Summer Signings

Arsenal had a shortlist of no fewer than 21 players during the summer transfer window, a report has disclosed, with the Gunners looking to make some remarkable signings in their quest to defend their Premier League title.

Bruno Guimarães, Ezri Konsa, Illan Meslier and Christos Tzolis all arrived at the Emirates, while Piero Hincapié's loan arrangement from the previous season was also converted into a permanent deal, though many felt Arsenal had let slip a chance to bolster their squad even further.

That sentiment likely stems from the high-profile names Arsenal failed to secure. Real Madrid's Vinícius Júnior was a well-documented target before he penned a new deal at the Bernabéu, while Morgan Rogers and Bradley Barcola were among those assessed before moving to other clubs.

According to BBC Sport, as many as 21 players were on Arsenal's radar heading into the summer window.

Arsenal's Summer Transfer Shortlist

The Biggest Surprises From Arsenal's Transfer Shortlist

Arsenal's pursuit of Rogers before his move to Chelsea was widely known, while Barcola and Juventus' Kenan Yıldız were both viewed as backup options before attention shifted to Vinícius Jr., whose contract uncertainty gave Arsenal hope that the summer's most sensational transfer could be within reach.

Yan Diomande was also monitored, but the winger had his heart set on joining Real Madrid. Likewise, reported interest in Atlético Madrid forward Julián Alvarez came to nothing due to the Argentine's unwillingness to make a return to English football.

That forced Arsenal to explore further alternatives, and few names on the list are as eyebrow-raising as Chelsea striker João Pedro.

Pedro had a stunning first season at Stamford Bridge, contributing 20 goals and nine assists to cement his place as the side's first-choice striker. Unsurprisingly, that form attracted attention from clubs across Europe — Barcelona were strongly linked before the Brazilian committed to a new deal — but Arsenal apparently fancied their chances of prising him away.

How seriously Arsenal pursued their interest in Pedro remains uncertain. Chelsea have shown a recent willingness to do business with their London rivals, having sold Kai Havertz, Noni Madueke and Kepa Arrizabalaga, but there was never any appetite to see Pedro follow a similar path.

Arsenal's scouts were also active closer to home as the club explored potential deals for two players from a fierce crosstown rival. Tottenham Hotspur's defensive pairing of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven came onto their radar ahead of what would have been a truly stunning transfer.

In the end, Spurs refused to countenance a sale of Van de Ven, who was handed a new contract extension. While they were open to moving on Romero, an understandable reluctance to deal with a direct rival meant Arsenal had little realistic chance of beating Atlético Madrid to his signature.

Ultimately, though, Arsenal's primary defensive target was Konsa. A deal with Aston Villa appeared unlikely as the window entered its final stages — which is why the Tottenham pair had been considered — but a $69 million agreement to sign Konsa was eventually reached late in the window.