Targets who should be on the Emirates Stadium radar.
1. Luis Suarez – Liverpool
Suarez may come with baggage, but if the recent links between the two are to be believed then surely Gunners fans can overlook his previous troubles in light of the exciting dimensions he’ll be able to provide them with.
He’s now been in the Premier League for three years now that has seen him notch an impressive 51 goals in 96 appearances across all competitions. He won’t need time to adjust to the rigours of English football, because he has already, and though Liverpool haven’t been in altogether terrible form, they haven’t looked like the side they were just a few seasons ago.
To his credit, he’s done impeccably well at Liverpool considering that Steven Gerrard has been his only major supply line over the past three years with the likes of Stuart Downing and Jordan Henderson not living up to their expectations. Brendan Rodgers has made steps to correct this with the signing of Philippe Coutinho, but it may be a case of too little too late as the temperamental Uruguayan now seems to have made up his mind over where his future may lie.
Backed with renewed buying power, Wenger could very well be expected to return to up the ante this summer.
2. Wayne Rooney – Manchester United
When Rooney joined United back in 2004 it seemed like a match made in heaven – where else was he going to go?
Now, however, things have gone sour for the the 27-year-old and he finally looks as though he could be on his way out with Arsenal reported to be interested in taking him off their hands.
Jack Wilshire wants him there too, having played alongside him at international level he knows what the former Everton man is all about.
“He is the type of player who can win you trophies – and just to see his name on the team sheet brings fear to the opposition. We could do with a little more of that,” Wilshire said recently.
And perhaps he’s right – nine years at Old Trafford has yielded 197 goals in 400 appearances, and that’s not counting his input into the goals scored by others when he’s playing behind the front two. He’s a natural born goalscorer who is more than capable of replacing Robin Van Persie, as well as playing alongside him.
A big fee and a big wage are expected to be tabled, all we have to do now is get used to the idea of him wearing a different kind of red shirt.
3. Mario Gomez – Bayern Munich
There’s so much to say about Mario Gomez – yet still so much to find out too.
His goalscoring rate in his native Germany has been nothing short of outstanding with a career total of 221 goals in 373 appearances for both Stuttgart and Bayern Munich. Finding the net regularly for the German national side too, he has yet to test himself outside of the Bundesliga, so though there are question marks over how well he would get on in England it’s not likely that he would fail.
Wenger has been a known admirer for some time, once saying: “[He’s] a great finisher who is often in the right place to finish off moves.” – which would suit Arsenal’s style perfectly, however, his superb balance and ability to hold up the ball give defender enough trouble on it’s own and he certainly add something to the Arsenal frontline that they don’t have at the moment.
Now would be the time to pounce too as he is looking to take the step away from Bayern after falling out of favour. Fees ranging from £7-17 million have been quoted, though competition from Manchester United and Fiorentina is set to be fierce.
Note: Gomez appears set to sign for Fiorentina
4. Christian Benteke – Aston Villa
A player nobody had hear of a year ago has taken the Premier League by storm over the past nine months to become one of the division’s most sought after stars – and furthermore, he wants to join Arsenal.
Paul Lambert pulled off a masterstroke by landing the big Belgian international for just £7 million last summer and he was able to sneer at the critics who warned him not to do it by pointing to 23 goals in 39 games. Not bad for a 22-year-old.
It does seem unlikely that Villa will let him go this year, they are under no obligation to sell as he has two years remaining on his current deal plus Arsenal would have to fork out a great deal more than the £7 million Villa originally paid for him.
Unbeatable in the air, and blessed with a tremendous ability to protect the ball and carve chances for himself, Benteke is a man with the world at his feet.
He has expressed a proclivity toward the Gunners, but realistically a move would be more likely next summer as the 6″3′ striker will want to ensure he is in Belgium’s starting line up at the World Cup in Brazil.
5. Edinson Cavani – Napoli
It almost seems like a foregone conclusion now that Cavani will join either Real Madrid, Manchester City or Chelsea – but for the money that Arsene Wenger reportedly has at his disposal then surely a move to the powerful Uruguayan hitman was bound to happen.
However, the club haven’t followed up on the initial interest shown earlier in the year, but that is perhaps to their detriment.
The 26-year-old has become one of the worlds most dangerous frontmen since moving to Italy back in 2006 – first with Palermo and now with Napoli.
He has bagged 104 goals in 138 appearances whilst in Naples, in a league that it is notoriously difficult to score that amount of goals in.
“You speak about Cavani … Napoli are playing for the championship and the Champions League [places] in Italy. What is the interest of Napoli to sell Cavani? None. Unless you come there and say, ‘OK, we pay twice the price of what the player is worth’,” Wenger had said.
However, Wenger may be left to kick himself come September 1st.