Arsenal Vs Tottenham: Leao Talks, Contract Twist and Squad Questions Heading into a Pivotal March
Arsenal face a complicated transfer landscape after holding initial talks over Rafael Leao, with the Portugal international now in contract talks at AC Milan while the squad prepares for the derby; the Arsenal vs tottenham fixture comes amid a busy schedule and a growing list of potential targets and internal concerns.
Arsenal Vs Tottenham reaction and the immediate schedule
The team has a week-long break to cool off following the north London derby with Tottenham. That pause arrives after an exhausting winter run of matches every three or four days, and the side still hold a narrow lead in the Premier League title race. The break will be used to prepare for a London derby against Chelsea on Sunday, March 1, a match that repeats a recent Carabao Cup semi-final second leg which Arsenal won 1-0.
March shapes up as decisive: a trip to Brighton, an FA Cup fifth-round tie at Mansfield Town, Champions League last-16 ties and a Carabao Cup final against Manchester City are all looming. The scheduling congestion is a factor in transfer planning and squad management as the club weighs short-term demands against summer reinforcements.
Transfer focus: Rafael Leao talks and the contract complication
Arsenal have held initial discussions with Rafael Leao’s representatives and the club’s sporting director, Andrea Berta, has held face-to-face talks. Leao, a 26-year-old Portugal international, has registered 11 goal contributions in 20 matches so far this season and has been on Arsenal’s radar for several years. Milan would entertain a sale if a suitable offer arrives; the Serie A club is prepared to sell in the region of €75-80 million, and a separate valuation has been cited around €80m (noted elsewhere as £69. 9m and roughly £70m in other estimates).
At the same time, renewal discussions at Milan have reportedly intensified. Leao has sent a clear and precise message to the Milan board about an extension, and the club, the player and his representatives are evaluating the structure of a new contract that could be agreed in the coming months. He will have two years remaining on his current contract at Milan this summer and is not due to become a free agent until 2028, which reduces immediate pressure on contract talks.
How the Leao picture affects Arsenal’s attacking plan
Leao has contributed 79 goals and 64 assists in 280 appearances for Milan since his £43. 3m move from Lille in 2019, including eight strikes in 18 Serie A games this campaign. He has been earmarked as a primary attacking target as Arsenal look to bolster ranks ahead of the 2026-27 season, particularly on the left wing where Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard have shared duties this season. The club is searching for an alternative option on the left and Leao has emerged as a top candidate.
However, new reports suggest Arsenal may have suffered a setback because Leao appears to be edging closer to a new contract in Milan. That development complicates a potential summer move even as Manchester United are also strongly interested; Arsenal are currently described as frontrunners in the chase but the situation is fluid.
Internal squad signals: why the left wing is a priority
Arsenal did not sign an out-and-out left winger in the recent summer window, and internal form issues have amplified the need for reinforcements. Eberechi Eze has struggled to adapt to Mikel Arteta’s demands both out wide and centrally. Gabriel Martinelli has managed 10 goals in cup competitions, including six in the Champions League, but has found the net just once in the Premier League and was judged to have under-performed in a recent 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers. Both Martinelli and Trossard could leave as free agents in 2027; Martinelli’s deal includes a 12-month extension option, and a long-term renewal is unclear while league form lags.
Broader transfer shortlist and emerging alternatives
Beyond Leao, the club’s scouting and recruitment list includes several names under consideration: Inter Milan striker Francesco Pio Esposito, Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali (pursuit expected to be rekindled), Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams, RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande, Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon and Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola. Those options reflect a range of approaches to the left-side and wider attacking upgrades.
Separately, a young attacking midfielder recently moved to Bayer Leverkusen for £35m and has publicly stated a desire to play for Arsenal in future, praising the coach, the system and the club’s style; he noted differences between Premier League and Champions League matches and commented on set-piece scoring as part of the team’s approach.
What’s next and uncertainties
The next steps hinge on contract outcomes in Milan and the club’s appetite to press a summer bid. Recent updates indicate Leao’s contract situation is active and could evolve; details may change in the coming weeks and months. Arsenal must balance immediate fixture congestion, squad form concerns and a widened transfer shortlist as the season reaches a crucial phase.
