Emirates Stadium side push on with moves to sign international strike duo.
Arsene Wenger is ready to reignite interest in Barcelona forward David Villa after receiving reports from the player’s representatives that the Spanish international is not happy about his role in Tito Vilanova’s first team set-up.
The 31 year old is concerned at the lack of playing time he is getting at the Nou Camp side and fears that it may cost him his spot in Vicente del Bosque’s 2014 World Cup squad. Wenger is ready to make a fresh offer for the experienced striker and could be willing to offer up to £10m, which is a fee that the Catalan side may elect to accept given the striker has just over a year to run on his current contract.
Villa was offered assurances by Vilanova mid-way through the season that he would be used on a more frequent basis but as yet this has not materialized, with off form Chilean Alexis Sanchez getting the nod on a regular basis.
Indeed the former Valencia man has started just 13 La Liga matches thus far this season but has still managed to net eight goals.
Despite his age Arsene Wenger continues to pursue Villa and hopes to bring in the World Cup winner this summer as part of a striking shake-up.
Arsene Wenger is also looking to complete a £24m deal to sign Fiorentina youngster Stevan Jovetic, with the Montenegro international said to be close to agreeing personal terms on such a switch.
The Serie A side are demanding a fee of £30m for the 23 year old, an asking price that the North London club are unwilling to meet. However given that Vincenzo Montella has already brought in Giuseppe Rossi as an able replacement there is every chance that the two sides will reach a compromise.
Jovetic has scored 26 goals in his last 54 Serie A starts for Fiorentina and has helped the club to mount a genuine push for a Champions League berth.
Arsene Wenger will look to make room for the proposed attacking additions by offloading a number of unwanted squad players with the likes of Nicklas Bendtner, Marouane Chamakh and Park Chu-Young all set to leave the Emirates Stadium this summer.
The Gunners boss will be ready to listen to cut-price offers to sell the trio as he looks to remove their large salaries from the club’s balance sheet.
The Arsenal boss may also be ready to listen to offers for Ivory Coast international Gervinho, who has had a mixed season at the club, scoring five goals in 18 Premier League fixtures.
The adaptable attacker, who can play out wide or up front, did hit a patch of good form in March but hasn’t started any of Arsenal’s last three Premier League fixtures.
Wenger does not however have any intention of selling either of his summer striking additions, Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski, who have both put in very decent first seasons in the English top tier.