Wenger prepares big-money moves to strengthen key areas of Arsenal’s squad.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is ready to embark on a sensational £45million spending spree to strengthen the core areas of his squad, CaughtOffside can reveal.
With Tottenham spending big over the summer, the Gunners are under pressure in their bid to make the top four again, and Wenger is aware of the need to improve in every department on the pitch before the close of the transfer window.
Michu (£25million)
Arsenal will meet Swansea City’s asking price for Spanish striker Michu, and make the former Rayo Vallecano star their record signing. Michu will bring a huge profit to Swansea, who signed him for just £2million last summer, before he went on to take the Premier League by storm with 18 goals in 35 league games.
Having missed out on ambitious targets such as Gonzalo Higuain and Luis Suarez, Michu is seen as the next best option for Wenger, who is keen to have some competition for Olivier Giroud upfront. Although the Frenchman had a decent first season in England last year, Arsenal struggled at times to replace the goals of Robin van Persie, who made a shock move to rivals Manchester United for £24million.
Ashley Williams (£8million)
Arsenal will also look to the Liberty Stadium in a bid to improve their defensive options. With Thomas Vermaelen out of fitness and form, an extra centre-back is a must for the Gunners after a poor showing in their opening game of the season, which they lost 3-1 at home to Aston Villa.
Wenger supposedly made an opening bid of £5million for Swans captain Williams, which was rejected, but the French tactician is confident of landing the 28-year-old with an improved offer of £8million, even though some reports have suggested that Swansea manager Michael Laudrup wants closer to £12million.
Williams has also been linked with Liverpool for much of this summer, and has hinted that he would be keen to make the step up to a bigger club, describing Arsenal’s interest as “flattering”.
Yohan Cabaye ( £12million)
The final chunk of Wenger’s war-chest will go on a renewed bid for Newcastle playmaker Yohan Cabaye. Arsenal had an opening offer of £10million rejected, but will be hoping to land the Frenchman with an improved bid of £12million.
The 27-year-old has been a big success in the Premier League since joining Newcastle from Lille for just £4million in 2011, and has been widely tipped to leave the club this summer, with the likes of Manchester United, PSG and Monaco also all interested.
The creative midfield player seems like a perfect fit at the Emirates Stadium, and could help provide an alternative to Mikel Arteta, who is currently out injured and looking like being out for around six weeks.
Wenger will be hoping to finally be rewarded for his ambitious moves in the transfer market, with some good players slipping through the net so far.