Arsene Wenger appears keen to spend hefty transfer war-chest and here are five additions who could be Emirates Stadium bound.
Arsene Wenger has today talked up his side’s pursuit of ‘top-level’ targets, insisting that Arsenal will look to bring in players before the new season starts.
“We have better financial resources than the years before and it is resources we have created ourselves. That is massively important to us,” he said.
“For years we were out of the race for the top-level transfers but we are coming back now because we are in a better financial situation and also because of Financial Fair Play. That will give everybody a bit more even ground.
“We will see what we can do until the end of the transfer period and certainly before the new season starts. That’s what we are working on at the moment.
“The fans, the players, everybody is reassured by big names. But what is important is that we don’t need numbers, we need quality. We are working very hard and I’m confident we will be able to do it.” (Fox Sports)
With this in mind here are five players Arsenal have been strongly linked with in recent weeks and who the Gunners could realistically sign this month.
Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid)
Arsenal have at times been incredibly close to sealing a deal to sign the Real Madrid forward only for some spanner or other getting in the works. However ostensibly nothing has changed, the Argentine wanted to leave the Bernabeu in search of regular first team football and though Carlo Ancelotti has taken over from Jose Mourinho there is no guarantee that Higuain will be getting the first team guarantees he is demanding.
Indeed Ancelotti may well be likely to splash the cash on further forward purchases and has been actively pursuing Liverpool striker Luis Suarez.
However if Arsene Wenger truly wants to sign the 25 year old then he will need to meet the La Liga giants valuation, which in all likelihood is the only barrier to a deal being struck. Higuain has publicly stated his desire to leave and as such could find himself the subject of Real Madrid boo boys if he remains at the club and whats more will have to deal with them whilst warming the bench.
Higuain is a proven goal-scorer, 122 goals in seven seasons at Real Madrid, and Wenger simply needs to put his money where his mouth is and stump up the £25m or so needed to bring the forward to the Emirates Stadium.
Marouane Fellaini (Everton)
The Belgian is certainly likely to leave Goodison Park and the fee is said to be around £24m, the amount needed to trigger the midfield powerhouse’s release clause.
Once again Arsene Wenger, who is known to be an admirer, must simply make the requisite offer and then see if the 25 year old Toffees star elects to join the North London club with a number of other potential suitors very likely to bid for the Everton man this summer.
Fellaini is a proven Premier League player who can work both as a defensively minded tough tackler, a role the former Standard Liege has talked up in recent weeks, or as an attacking option to link midfield and attack. The Everton man racked up a dozen goals in all competitions and would be the type of signing that would greatly improve Arsenal’s starting eleven and offer protection for the likes of Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla.
A definitely possible summer signing.
Julio Cesar (QPR)
QPR are desperate to sell the Brazilian, so much so that they will accept a nominal fee just to get his salary off the balance sheet.
For all the talk of apparent interest from Italy there is growing speculation that Cesar is keen to remain in England and knows that a high profile move to Arsenal could well be the best offer to pursue.
The former Inter Milan man had a decent season with his Loftus Road side last term, this despite his side finishing rock bottom of the table and the experienced custodian could be the ideal man to battle Pole Wojciech Szczesny for the starting berth.
Cesar spent seven successful seasons at the San Siro before moving to QPR, winning five Serie A titles and a Champions League winners medal in the process.
Ashley Williams (Swansea City)
Arsene Wenger is keen to bring in strong central defensive options having seen Thomas Vermaelen suffer with injuries and average form and also sent out Johan Djourou on loan (With a view to a permanent exit) whilst releasing hapless Frenchman Sebastien Squillaci.
28 year old Welsh international Williams could be an intelligent recruit but there appears to be something of a gap between the valuations made by both Arsenal and Swansea City.
Arsenal are thought to be ready to offer around £8m for Williams and the Liberty Stadium side want at least £10m. The battling Swansea City man is thought to want a move to join the Gunners and that could well play into Wenger’s hands as the summer transfer window ticks on.
Nani (Man United)
Portuguese winger seems more than likely to seek an exit away from Man United given that his current bit-part role in the Old Trafford first team is only going to be further restricted by the arrival of Wilfried Zaha from Crystal Palace.
Some reports suggest that Arsenal are one of a number of sides keen on the 26 year old who is thought to be available for a very reasonable £8.5m deal due to the fact that Nani only has a year to run on his current deal.
Arsene Wenger has been linked with a summer move for the Man United wide-man who could offer help strengthen the Arsenal attack.
Nani can be used in a wide or attacking midfield role and has the experience and potential to salvage a career that is threatening to turn into a damp squib at Man United.