With Arsenal qualifying for next season’s Champions League, manager Arsene Wenger looks set to strengthen his squad. With a possible £100 million to spend here are 10 players who have been strongly linked with moves to the Emirates Stadium this summer.
Julio Cesar (QPR)
The Brazilian goalkeeper is a hot favourite to make the move from QPR to Arsenal this summer. Despite being relegated with QPR, Cesar won a lot of plaudits for his performances in goal. The former Inter Milan goalkeeper is almost certainly set to leave QPR and as he is settle in London it appears the Gunners would be a good fit for him. He told reporters ahead of Brazil’s friendly against England that he is happy in London and wants to stay in England.
If he does make the move to the Emirates he will be in direct competition with Wojciech Szczesny, who has come under fire for some of his performances over the season. Arsene Wenger has struggled to find a reliable goalkeeper since Jens Lehman left for Borussia Dortmund. Julio Cesar would fit appear to bill for the Frenchman if he makes the move to North London.
Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid)
The striker has already announced his intention to leave Spanish giants Real Madrid this summer. In the final game of the Spanish season, Higuain scored Real’s first goal and after the match claimed that he will leave Real Madrid after 6 years at the club. He has scored 107 goals in 190 appearances for the club. Higuain is known for his eye for goal and that will appeal to Arsene Wenger, who has been looking for a goal scorer since Robin Van Persie left for Manchester United last year.
Arsenal have struggled for goals this season and a striker of Higuain’s quality would help push the Gunners towards the Premier League title. There are other teams who have shown interest in Higuain however, with Juventus said to be very interested in the Argentine. Higuain was asked after his final game for Real Madrid about the possibility of a move to Juventus and said that a move to the Italian champions was possibility. Manchester City are also known to have shown interest in Higuain.
David Villa (Barcelona)
Villa is another striker that Arsene Wenger is said to interested in. The Barcelona forward could leave Catalonia this summer due to limited opportunities in the Barcelona starting 11. The chances of Villa leaving increased last month when the Spanish champions signed Brazilian international Neymar, meaning opportunities for Villa to play next season will be scarce. Villa is said to want to try and make Spain’s World Cup squad and needs first team football in order to secure a place in a very competitive team.
The Spaniard would give the Gunners plenty of goals and can also play out wide, giving Arsene Wenger plenty of options. Arsenal aren’t the only English club to be interested in Villa, with Liverpool and Tottenham also said to be looking to add the striker to their squads. The Gunners will be playing in the Champions League next season and that could be important when trying to persuade the striker to come and play at the Emirates.
Victor Wanyama (Celtic)
The Celtic midfielder is one of Europe’s most coveted midfielders this summer. Wanyama has refused to sign a new contract at Parkhead and his current contract runs out in 2015, meaning he could leave for free in 2 years time. It looks as though the midfielder will be leaving Celtic sooner rather than later and Arsenal are amongst the teams interested. Arsenal legend Peter Groves has urged Arsenal sign the midfielder and could be a bargin at £10 million. Wanyama started attracting interest after strong performances in the Champions League.
Both Inter Milan and Tottenham are interested in the Celtic star, so Arsene Wenger may have his work cut out in trying to sign Wanyama. Inter Milan appear to be in pole position with new boss Walter Mazzarri looking to add the Kenyan to the Inter squad.
Stevan Jovetic (Fiorentina)
The Fiorentina striker is another of Europe’s most wanted players for this summer. The Montenegrin is said to be worth £25 million and is certainly on Arsenal’s radar to strengthen their squad. Jovetic would add to goals to the Arsenal team and can play behind the striker. A signing of the quality of Jovetic would make Arsenal a much stronger team and would help them challenge for the Premier League title. Arsenal aren’t the only team in Europe wanting to sign Jovetic however, with Premier League rivals Chelsea said to be interested as well as Juventus.
Both teams could possibly offer more financially than Arsenal but the Montengrin would be probably be at the centre of Arsene Wenger’s plans were he to sign for Arsenal. Another possible stumbling block for Arsenal could be the fee that they would have to pay for Jovetic. Fiorentina are said to want £25 million for the Montenegrin. Whether Arsenal will pay that is up for debate.
Wayne Rooney (Man United)
The Manchester United striker has been unsettled since he was left on the bench in Manchester United’s Champions League 2nd Round match against Real Madrid. He then asked manager Sir Alex Ferguson if he could leave Old Trafford, wishing for a fresh start. Despite some indifferent performances this season, Wayne Rooney is still one of the most sought after players in Europe and a player that would add a huge amount to Arsenal’s first team. Rooney’s goals could make Arsenal a real threat in the Premier League.
The England striker has also attracted interest from Premier League rivals Chelsea as well as French clubs Paris St Germain and super rich AS Monaco. Financially, Arsenal would not be able to compete with the French clubs and it is unlikely that Manchester United would sell Rooney to a Premier League rival. It is a possibility that Rooney could stay at United, with Everton manager David Moyes set to try and persuade him to stay at the Premier League champions.
Clement Grenier (Lyon)
The Frenchman has dropped plenty of hints about where he will be playing next season and Arsenal seem to be favourites to sign the Lyon midfielder. He has already said that he will be leaving the French club and mentioned Arsenal directly when he was asked where he will be playing next season. Grenier is a creative midfielder and would add a bit more guile to the Gunners midfielder.
Arsenal do currently have a lot of creative midfielders on their books so some fans may wonder why another one is needed but valued at £8 million he could be a bargain. The playmaker recently won his first cap for the French national team and has reportedly attracted the interest of Italian champions Juventus, meaning Arsenal may still have some work to do to sign the Frenchman.
Martin Skrtel (Liverpool)
Arsene Wenger is said to be interested in signing another central defender to strengthen his squad. With rumours circulating that Thomas Vermalen could leave the Gunners in the summer, a replacement will be needed to replace the current club captain. Vermalen is said to disappointed at losing his place in central defence to Per Mertesaker and Laurent Koscientny. If Vermalen does leave a perfect replacement would Liverpool’s Martin Skrtel. The centre back is seen as a strong, no nonsense central defender.
Arsenal fans have been crying out for some steel in the Arsenal team and Skrtel could provide that. With Arsenal playing in the Champions League next season, Skrtel could be interested in a move to the Emirates with Liverpool failing to get into the Premier League’s top four. Skrtel has also lost his place in the Liverpool first team and has said that last season was his worst since he came to Anfield. If Skrtel were to move to the Gunners then he would have a challenge to try and break into Arsenal’s first team with both Mertesaker and Koscienlny secure as a central defensive partnership.
Yaya Sanogo (Auxerre)
The Auxerre striker appears to be close to joining Arsenal. Arsene Wenger revealed that talks are at an advanced stage with the French under-21 international. Wenger will be keen to add to his striking options as scoring goals has been problem from Arsenal since Robin Van Persie left for Manchester United.
Sanogo is one of France’s brightest young talents and Wenger will look to nurture him in the same way that he nurtured players such Thierry Henry and Patrick Viera. Sanogo is out of contract at Auxerre but if they are successful in signing him, Arsenal will have to pay compensation.
Cesc Fabregas (Barcelona)
Fabregas left the Gunners two years ago for Barcelona after a summer of speculation. The Spaniard was idolised during his time at Arsenal and spent a period as club captain before his move back to Spain. Rumours have been circulating about a possible move back to North London for Fabregas. He has fallen down the pecking order at Barcelona and may struggle to get in the first team next year following the arrival of Neymar at the Nou Camp.
Fabregas would be welcomed back with open arms at the Emirates and would add undoubted skill and class to the Gunners first team. Other clubs are also said to interested in Fabregas, with Manchester United said to be preparing a bid for the Spaniard. With a £25 million asking price, re-signing Fabregas would not be cheap, but it would send a signal the Premier League that Arsenal will be competing for the Premier League title.