Arsenal have departed for their pre-season tour of Asia without top striker target Viktor Gyökeres and new signing Noni Madueke, though several other new recruits and two 15-year-old prospects are part of the 30-man travelling squad.
The Gunners flew to Singapore on Saturday for the first leg of a two-week tour that includes friendlies against AC Milan and Newcastle United, before a North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur in Hong Kong.
The club had hoped to include Swedish striker Viktor Gyökeres in the squad as negotiations with Sporting CP are in an advanced stage. While a deal for an initial fee of around €63 million (£55.1 million) plus add-ons is understood to be close, the final terms are still under discussion, preventing him from joining the tour.
Winger Noni Madueke, whose £48.5 million transfer from Chelsea was confirmed on Friday, has also been omitted. The 23-year-old has been granted an extended rest period after participating in the FIFA Club World Cup with his former club in the United States. He is expected to link up with his new teammates when they return from Asia.
Other new signings, including goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga and midfielders Martín Zubimendi and Christian Nørgaard, have all travelled. Defender Cristhian Mosquera, whose £17 million move from Valencia is being finalised, is not part of the group.
In a notable inclusion, 15-year-old academy talents Max Dowman and Marli Salmon have been named in the touring party. Attacking midfielder Dowman, who scored 19 goals for Arsenal’s youth teams last season, has been training with the senior squad and has been praised by manager Mikel Arteta as a “huge talent.”
The squad is, however, without Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus, who continues his rehabilitation from a significant knee surgery he underwent in January, casting doubt on his availability for the start of the Premier League season.
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