Recent rumours of Arsenal making an apparent €16m bid for Club Brugge defender Bjorn Engels appear to have now been thoroughly proven as false and the product of wishful thinking on internet forums and social media.

According to several latest reports, the Belgian media when contacted the player’s camp for information, were subsequently informed that there is absolutely no knowledge of any interest or offer from the Gunners.

Being a solid centre-back, Engels made his professional debut in a Europa League game against Bordeaux in 2012, only to score an own-goal as his side lost 4-0.

Since then things have got a little better, and the defender has currently scored 5 goals in 40 appearances. Not a bad return at all for the towering defender.

Arsenal are once again quiet in the transfer market while rivals spending big money.

In Ibrahimovic, Eric Bailly and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Manchester United have added three recognisable names to their squad this summer. They appear prepared for a fourth too, with 100 million deal for Pogba almost done.

Chelsea have signed Michy Batshuayi and N’Golo Kante for a combined £63m, and Liverpool have welcomed five additions of their own, including Sadio Mane for £35m. Manchester City have already signed Gundogan, Nolito, Leroy Sane also edging closer to join City.

And then there’s Arsenal. The Gunners have made just two signings so far this summer, with Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka arriving on a £35million deal from Borussia Monchengladbach and 21-year-old Japanese striker Takuma Asano from J-League club Sanfrecce Hiroshima. Since then there hardly has been a sound from the Gunners in the transfer echo chamber.

They have appeared timid in the transfer market, reluctant to shell out the big bucks beyond the Xhaka deal. It is a pattern that Gunners’ fans have become used to, if not exasperated by, and there are already fears the club could repeat last summer’s transfer window, when Petr Cech was the only addition to Arsene Wenger’s squad.