Arsenal to spend big on major squad overhaul.
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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger finally looks set to make the required improvements to his squad this week, with an incredible £64million quadruple signing in four key areas of his squad.
With rivals Tottenham’s big summer spending looking to continue with the signings of the likes of Hulk and Erik Lamela, Wenger is aware that his side will face a tougher test than ever to make the club’s minimum target of the top four, let alone challenge for silverware, and he hopes his signing of a goalkeeper, a defender and two attacking midfielders can ensure his side remain competitive.
Ashley Williams (Swansea City – £9million)
The Swansea captain has been one of Arsenal’s main targets for much of the summer, with Wenger seemingly losing faith in his skipper Thomas Vermaelen and the other members of his back four, who were badly exposed in the club’s 3-1 opening day defeat at home to Aston Villa. Although they bounced back with a convincing win at Fulham, Wenger was forced to play with Sagna at centre-back due to Laurent Koscielny’s absence through suspension. Arsenal clearly lack depth in this position and Williams’ solid displays since winning promotion to the Premier League with the Swans have impressed Wenger sufficiently to convince him to meet the Welsh side’s asking price of £9million. Arsenal recently failed with an opening offer of around £5million, but should now be successful in landing the 29-year-old, who had also been linked with Liverpool.
Arsenal were thought to be plotting a double raid on Swansea for striker Michu as well, but appear to have prioritised other targets in their attacking areas.