Arsene Wenger begins to draw up list of potential summer additions to strengthen his Emirates Stadium squad.
Arsene Wenger is already drawing up a list of targets that he hopes he can lure to the Emirates Stadium this summer. The Arsenal boss will be handed a significant transfer war-chest as the Frenchman looks to bring an end to a lengthy lean spell but knows the quality of player he can attract will be greatly affected by whether the Gunners can secure that all important Champions League berth.
High up on Wenger’s wish-list is battling French midfielder Etienne Capoue who could well be tempted to leave Toulouse to further his career.
The 24 year old one club man was apparently a player Wenger attempted to sign last month but Toulouse had demanded £14m for the defensive midfielder, a price that Wenger was apparently unwilling to meet.
Wenger will look to re-ignite talks to bring in the box to box performer as he looks to bring in a player who can add some much needed steel to his midfield and may look to come up with an offer that could involve the use of a squad player in a part exchange deal with the likes of Marouane Chamakh & Sebastien Squillaci, both with extensive Ligue 1 experience, leading the list of possible candidates.
Arsene Wenger will look to push on with moves to capture another long term target in the form of Fiorentina forward Stevan Jovetic. The Arsenal manager sees the Montenegrin as his number one priority in the pursuit of bringing more strength and depth to his side’s attack.
The Premier League side may well succeed in a push to sign the 23 year old as La Viola are apparently scouting Southampton star Gaston Ramirez as a possible replacement for Jovetic.
Vincenzo Montella also brought in Villarreal forward Giuseppe Rossi in January and the former Man United man may well have been signed in the knowledge that Jovetic may be on his way out.
The former Partizan Belgrade man is comfortable on the ball and able to play in a number of positions and may well be tempted by a move to the North London club.
Jovetic has scored 23 goals in his last 48 Serie A appearances.
Arsenal will also look to strengthen a defence that has been shaky at points this season and will look to land French international Mamadou Sakho.
The 22 year old is apparently frustrated as the limited role he has assumed at big spending PSG, who have brought in centre-backs Thiago Silva and Alex who appear to be Carlo Ancelotti’s preferred defensive pairing.
Sakho has spoken of his admiration of the English top tier stating: “I adore the Premier League.”
On his current situation at the Parc des Princes he added; “I cannot accept playing just a few minutes this season and next because this is a decisive moment in my career.
“At the end of the season I will sit down with my agent and club officials and clear up the situation.
“If I have to leave PSG to keep my place in the France national team, then I have no choice but to leave.”
Arsenal may well have room for defensive additions with Johan Djourou likely to leave the club on a permanent basis having been sent out on loan to Hannover. Sebastien Squillaci similarly appears to have little or no future at the North London club.
Though Arsene Wenger has three solid centre-backs to choose from; Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny and Thomas Vermaelen, the Gunners defence hasn’t looked all that sound this term and the fact that Sakho can play at centre and left-back will also count in his favour should the Arsenal boss push on with moves to sign the one club man.