We take a look at the players the Emirates Stadium should look to bring in this summer.
Simon Mignolet (Sunderland)
The Belgian goalkeeper has been in fine form at the Stadium of Light this season and Sunderland know they are unlikely to be able to hold on to the goalkeeper for long. Mignolet would be keen to raise his profile by moving to a big club as he looks to regain the Belgian number one spot from Chelsea youngster Thibault Courtois. Courtois is currently on loan at Atletico Madrid and has put in an number of impressive performances for the La Liga side but Mignolet is keen to regain his place in the starting eleven before next summer’s World Cup finals tournament in Brazil.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is reportedly in the market for a new goalkeeper this summer after becoming increasingly frustrated with the erratic form of young Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny. The currnet Arsenal number one has committed a number of high profile errors which could prove costly should the club miss out on a top four finish and qualification for next season’s Champions League tournament.
Despite Sunderland struggling in the league this season, Mignolet has been one of their most consistent performers and the club would likely find themselves even closer to the relegation zone were it not for his heroics. Sunderland are unlikely to want to sell the player but Mignolet will want to leave the Stadium of Light should a big club lie Arsenal come calling.
Ashley Williams (Swansea City)
Williams has been at the heart of the Swansea defence over the last few seasons as the club continue to defy expectations. Williams captained the side to Capital One Cup success and has played a key role in the club’s impressive performance in the Premier League this season.
Arsenal are thought to be in the market for a new centre-back this summer with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger becoming increasingly frustrated at the high profile blunders that have cost the club valuable points in their chase for a Champions League qualification spot. The club’s current centre-backs, Laurent Koscielny, Thomas Vermaelen and Per Mertesacker, are all talented players but none of them are able to lead the defence.
Williams has been identified as a player who could marshal the back four and help plug the gaps that have occasionally formed this season.
Swansea boss Michael Laudrup is a big fan of Williams and is unlikely to sell him on the cheap but Arsenal should have the funds to prize him away from the Liberty Stadium now that the loan on the Emirates has finally been paid off. While he may not come cheaply, Williams could well be worth the outlay as he has proven Premier League experience.
Adrian Lopez (Atletico Madrid)
The club were close to sealing a deal for Atletico Madrid’s Adrian during the January transfer window, only for a move to break down after the two clubs failed to agree a fee for the player. Adrian has since fallen down the pecking order in the Spanish capital and Atletico are likely to accept a reduced figure come the summer.
The Spaniard put in some highly impressive performances for his club during their Europa League-winning campaign last season. Atletico Madrid reportedly have doubts about the player’s ability to cut it at the highest level as they gear up for a Champions League campaign next season but the player continues to have some firm admirers at the Emirates Stadium. The La Liga side are likely to demand a figure in the region of £8 million for the player which presents a minimal risk.
That could well allow the club to go pursue one of their other striker targets as well but Arsene Wenger may well incur the wrath of Arsenal fans should Adrian become his only attacking reinforcement this summer. Southampton are set to rival Arsenal for the player’s signature as new Saints boss Mauricio Pochettino knows the player well from his time in charge of Espanyol.
Nicolas N’Koulou (Marseille)
N’Koulou has been one of the biggest reasons for Marseille’s ability to keep pace with big spending PSG in the Ligue 1 this season. The player only joined the club from Monaco last summer but with the club reportedly facing financial pressures, they know they face a battle to keep hold of their talented defender.
The French side are looking for a fee in the region of £8 million which would be affordable for the Gunners as well as allow Marseille some breathing space to keep hold of the rest of their squad. The club are keen to bring in a centre-back this summer with the side lacking leadership at the back.
The player sparked the interest of a number of Premier League sides recently when he admitted he could be set for a move to the Premier League. Arsenal may find themselves in competition for the players signature though with the likes of Liverpool, Tottenham and Newcastle all thought to be monitoring the player’s availability. Marseille’s title rivals Lyon are also thought to be keen to keep the player in France.
Qualification for the Champions League could prove key to persuading the player his future lies at the Emirates Stadium.
Sebastien Corchia (Sochaux)
The French right-back is becoming one of the hottest properties in Europe following a string of impressive displays for the struggling French side.
Corchia could become available in a cut price deal should Sochaux suffer relegation from Ligue 1 and the 22 year old defender would be the perfect replacement for Bacary Sagna. Sagna looks certain to leave the club after enduring a fractured relationship with the club over the last year.
The player has been publically critical of the club’s transfer policy following the sale of Robin Van Persie to Manchester United and with the right-back’s contract due to expire at the end of next season, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger may well decide to cut his losses with PSG reportedly interested in the player. Corchia has admitted he hopes to one day move to a big club and Arsenal could steal him away from Sochaux for as little as £5 million.
They are likely to face competition for the player’s signature however with Tottenham thought to be keen to bring the player to White Hart Lane as back up for England international Kyle Walker.
Ibrahim Afellay (Barcelona, on-loan at Schalke)
The Dutch midfielder is undoubtedly talented but has been unable to achieve his full potential so far in his career. Afellay joined Barcelona from Dutch giants PSV in January 2011 and won the Champions League with the club within his first six months at the Nou Camp. But the player’s spell in Catalonia has since been blighted by injury and that has seen him slip down the pecking order at Barcelona.
Afellay has been told he is free to move away from the club this summer and there are likely to be no shortage of suitors for the player. Afellay put in some impressive performances on loan at Bundesliga side Schalke this year before once again succumbing to injury. Afellay represents a risk fitness-wise but Barcelona would be likely to accept £5 million and the player could offer some guile and creativity on the Arsenal flanks.
While the club currently have pacy options on the wings in the form of Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, the likes of Tomas Rosicky and Andrei Arshavin have failed to live up to their potential as tricky wide players. Afellay has the ability to produce something from out of nowhere and could prove to be a significant asset in unlocking tight defences when Arsenal’s passing game is failing to prove fruitful.
Italian giants Inter Milan and Lazio are also thought to be interested in the player’s signature.
Victor Valdes (Barcelona)
The Spanish goalkeeper shocked the Nou Camp recently when he announced that he would not be signing a new contract as he goes in search of a new challenge.
Valdes has revealed that he would be very attracted by a move to the Premier League and Arsenal are thought to be leading the chase for the player’s signature. The experienced Valdes could provide some much needed mentoring for young Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and restore some faith to the Arsenal backline about the man in the gloves. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is known to have become frustrated with the young goalkeeper’s failure to reproduce his assured performances from last season and the French manager is beginning to wonder whether he has put Szczesny into the first team at too young an age.
Valdes could be the perfect custodian of the Arsenal gloves while Szczesny continues his development. Valdes is unlikely to cost a lot of money with his contract due to expire at the end of next season. It is thought the Catalan giants would accept a bid in the region of £8 million for the stopper.
Liverpool have also been linked with a move for Valdes as question marks remain over the future of Pepe Reina.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Saint-Etienne)
Aubameyang has become one of the most sought after strikers in Europe after a string of impressive displays for St. Etienne in Ligue 1. His goals have fired St. Etienne into fourth position in the French top flight that could lead to surprise qualification for the Champions League.
The player is nicknamed the ‘African Neymar’ on account of his clinical finishing and trademark Mohawk hairstyle. Arsene Wenger is known to be in the market for attacking reinforcements this summer after disappointing debut seasons from Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud. Aubameyang could be the answer to Arsenal’s striker problems and finally fill the gap left by the departure of Robin Van Persie to Manchester United last summer.
Aubameyang has admitted he is tempted by a move to the Premier League and has expressed his belief that a bid of just £10 million would be enough to persuade St. Etienne to sell. PSG are thought to be keen on keeping the player in France though and reports in Italy from recent days suggest that Roma are ready to enter the race for the player’s signature.
Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid)
The Argentine striker has found himself out of favour this season at Real Madrid as Portuguese boss Jose Mourinho has tended to prefer the attacking talents of French striker Karim Benzema.
Speculation regarding Higuain’s future has intensified in recent months with the player seemingly admitting it may be time for him to put an end to his Madrid career. Higuain is keen to secure first team football as he looks to book his place in the Argentina squad for next summer’s World Cup finals tournament in Brazil.
While Higuain would not come cheap, his signing would be a clear statement of ambition from the club. Arsenal may have to move soon though as Higuain is likely to interest a number of top European sides should he become availabile.
Stevan Jovetic (Fiorentina)
The Montenegrin striker is seemingly Arsenal’s top transfer target this summer with the club having been strongly linked to the player. Italian side Fiorentina are hoping to keep hold of the player and will not be willing to sell him cheaply.
The Serie A side are likely to demand a transfer fee in the region of £25 million for the forward. Arsenal are thought to be ready to match that with the purse strings having finally been loosened now that the debt on the Emirates Stadium loan has been paid off. Jovetic is an accomplished marksman and could fill the gap left by Robin Van Persie that has failed to have been adequately filled by Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud.
Manchester City are also thought to be interested in Jovetic though and that has the potential to scupper a deal for the player especially if Arsenal fail to qualify for the Champions League.
Arsenal fans will not have enjoyed the host of Jovetic’s Fiorentina team-mates who have publically urged the player to turn down the advances of the Gunners. Jovetic still seems willing to join the club but they must first seal a top four finish as the striker will not consider moving to a club that isn’t playing Champions League football.