Arsenal Vs Tottenham: Transfer Bombshell as Rafael Leao Talks, Squad Questions and March Fixture Test
The north London headline Arsenal Vs Tottenham arrives at a moment of intense activity off the pitch as Arsenal have held initial talks over Rafael Leao and juggle a packed calendar. Arsenal Vs Tottenham is the immediate fixture backdrop for a club weighing a potential €75–80m pursuit, contract developments at AC Milan and significant squad uncertainty on the left wing.
Arsenal transfer chase for Rafael Leao
Recent coverage reveals Arsenal have initiated contact with Rafael Leao’s representatives as they eye a potential summer move for the AC Milan forward. Andrea Berta has held face-to-face talks with Leao’s camp, and Leao, aged 26, has instructed his representatives to explore a summer transfer while he remains yet to discuss a potential Arsenal switch directly. Manchester United are also described as strongly interested, but Arsenal are positioned as the frontrunners in current assessments.
Contract picture at AC Milan and valuation details
A separate report dated 22 Feb 2026 notes Leao is edging closer to signing a new contract with AC Milan; renewal talks are said to have ramped up after negotiations began months earlier. That report states Leao sent a clear and precise message to the Milan board and that all parties are evaluating the structure of a new deal that could be agreed in the coming months. At the same time, Milan have been prepared to sell if a suitable offer arrives, with valuations quoted in different pieces as in the region of €75–80m and a €80m figure equated with roughly £69. 9m; other coverage referenced a region of £70m. Leao will have two years remaining on his current contract this summer and is not due to become a free agent until 2028 under current terms.
Player form: mixed metrics and career output
Two distinct performance snapshots appear in recent items: one notes Leao has registered 11 goal contributions in 20 matches so far this season, while another records eight strikes in 18 Serie A games during the current campaign. Across his Milan spell since his move from Lille in 2019 for £43. 3m, Leao has amassed 79 goals and 64 assists in 280 appearances, per the available figures.
Squad context: why Arsenal are hunting a left-wing upgrade
Arsenal did not sign an out-and-out left-winger in the last summer window, leaving balance issues on the left. Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard have shared duties as Mikel Arteta’s preferred left winger this season, but both players’ long-term futures are described as uncertain. Martinelli has 10 goals in cup competitions, including six in the Champions League, yet only one Premier League goal and was singled out for a below-par showing in Wednesday’s 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. Eberechi Eze has also struggled to adapt to Arteta’s demands, whether played wide or centrally. Those issues are cited as reasons Andrea Berta may prioritise a left-wing upgrade in the summer.
Alternative targets and wider recruitment thinking
Alongside Leao, names floated as potential targets include Inter Milan striker Francesco Pio Esposito and a rekindled pursuit of Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali. Other options mentioned for the left or wide roles are Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams, RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande, Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon and Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola. Separately, Bayer Leverkusen’s Malik Tillman, age 23 and signed last summer for £35m from PSV, has publicly expressed a desire to play for Arsenal and praised their coach and system, while noting differences between Premier League and Champions League styles and comments about set-piece scoring.
Fixture congestion, immediate tests and what’s next
Arsenal have a week-long break to recover after the Sunday afternoon north London derby against Tottenham. The side hold a narrow lead in the Premier League title race and will use the pause to prepare for a London derby against Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, March 1. The club’s March schedule is demanding, with a trip to Brighton, an FA Cup fifth-round tie at Mansfield Town, Champions League last-16 fixtures and a Carabao Cup final against Manchester City, following a Carabao Cup semi-final second-leg earlier in the month that the club won 1-0. Recent commentary also notes Arsenal face Tottenham in Sunday’s north London derby, underlining the immediate competitive context around these transfer discussions.
Details remain fluid: some reports point to Leao edging toward a contract extension at Milan, while other coverage emphasises Arsenal’s active pursuit and valuation windows. These strands will determine whether a major summer bid materialises or whether Arsenal pivot to alternative wide options as they prepare for a congested end to the campaign.
