A collection of big name targets the Emirates Stadium side should be looking to sign this summer.
It’s been the all too similar story of missed targets and unfulfilled signings at the Emirates Stadium this summer.
Manager Arsene Wenger supposedly has a £70m budget burning a substantial hole in his back-pocket and he has even been able to successfully offload a number of squad players to help free up additional funds for his anticipated transfer business.
However, despite the money being readily available and a palpable need for strengthening throughout his side, Wenger has not expended a penny this summer with only French youngster Yaya Sanogo arriving on a free transfer as frustration grows among Gunners supporters.
The long-serving boss has now been offered something of a warning shot after their abject showing in the 3-1 defeat against Aston Villa on Saturday and the French boss has reportedly made bids for Yohan Cabaye, Ashley Williams and Michu. All good players, but none of which are going to significantly improve the side to bring them up to scratch with United, City and Chelsea challenging at the top of the Premier League.
There are potential quality signings staring Arsenal in the face but Wenger, as usual, refuses to pay the premium price involved and instead they will end up elsewhere. Here are five top-class additions that Wenger should be trying to sign but will end up being missed.
Wayne Rooney –Manchester United- £40m
The Manchester United forward is being heavily pursued by Chelsea and their new boss Jose Mourinho but if Wenger hold real ambitions to seize the initiative and bring the Gunners back into title contention, landing the 27-year-old England international should be priority number one in the transfer market.
The hunt for a marquee signing in Liverpool forward Luis Suarez seems to have hit a brick wall with the Uruguayan now happy to remain at Anfield despite earlier reports to the contrary and Arsenal are now understood to be looking at other options in attack with Rooney still a small possibility.
The English striker is thought to be unsettled with life at Old Trafford and he even submitted a transfer request towards the end of last season although the summer departure of Sir Alex Ferguson could change things.
Chelsea have already seen two bids rejected by the Red Devils who remain adamant that Rooney will not be sold to one of their Premier League rivals during the current transfer window although United are more likely to sell to Arsenal than the Blues.
The former Everton striker may be reluctant to sign for a side who without a trophy in over eight years but if Wenger can strongly contest his United wages while offering him the chance to be the main focal point in attack, Rooney would find any opportunity to move to the Emirates Stadium difficult to turn down.
Marouane Fellaini – Everton – £23m
Manchester United are being strongly linked with a move for the 25-year-old Belgian international midfielder but there is no reason why Arsenal couldn’t also mount a serious challenge to David Moyes’s new side for the ex-Standard Liege man.
The Gunners have already seen a glorious chance to land Fellaini pass-by as his release clause, reportedly £23.5m, expired at the end of July and instead any club that is seeking his services now will have to hold negotiations with the Toffees who are eager to keep hold of their star midfielder.
United boss David Moyes is heading the chasing pack with a reported £16m bid submitted and rejected yesterday but the all-round combative midfielder would surely be the perfect signing for Arsenal this summer as they seek to bolster their squad ahead of a tough Premier League campaign. Fellaini would offer consistency and leadership quality to the
Gunners midfield that has been lacking for several seasons.
Samuel Eto’o – Anzhi Makhachkala – £5m
The Cameroonian international striker has been made available for sale by Anzhi after their billionaire owner Suleiman Kerimov grew tired of bankrolling the Russian side with very little success.
Both Manchester United and Chelsea have been strongly rumoured to be interested in a summer swoop for the 31-year-old who is believed to be available at around £5m as the Russian Premier League side look to cut their loses with the striker.
However despite his bargain price there has been no mention of real interest from the Emirates Stadium and yet the former Inter Milan and Barcelona striker would certainly fit the bill as the club seek proper focal point in their attack.
Eto’o managed to net 36 goals in his 71 appearances for the Russian side and would bring with him a rich pedigree to act as final replacement for Robin van Persie in the Gunners attack but the French boss looks unlikely to move for the Cameroon star.
Wenger unsurprisingly seems reluctant to get anywhere near Eto’o’s unbelievable current £300k-a-week wage package as he sticks to his tight budget at the Emirates and current best paid footballer in the world would have to significantly lower his expectations upon any move to North London.
Pepe – Real Madrid – £25m
In order to challenge again at the top of the Premier League and in Europe , the Gunners really need to recruit a top-class centre-back and the Real Madrid enforcer should be a target this summer.
Wenger reportedly tracked Pepe back in 2011 before the defender signed his new contract with Madrid but the veteran’s manager interest seems to have waned since then despite the increasing need to add passion, undoubtedly ability and vital international experience to his side.
Manchester City are now understood to heading the pack, who are looking to raid Madrid for the 30-year-old Portuguese international, as new boss Manuel Pellegrini seeks to bolster his defence. The emergence of French youngster Raphael Varane at the Bernabeu has led to increased speculation that Pepe could depart this summer if the right offer is tabled.
The Gunners look short in defence but yet there has been no reported interest in the Real Madrid powerhouse whose £25m price-tag seems reasonable.
Club captain Thomas Vermaelen had a disappointing campaign at the Emirates while current first choice centre-back pairing Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny have improved with time but still Wenger’s side lack any depth at the back, something that the highly-experienced Pepe would bring to the table.
Instead Wenger has targeted a move for Swansea City and Wales captain Ashley Williams as he looks to solve his defensive issues with Pepe probably ending up at the Etihad Stadium if Pellegrini gets his way.
Ilkay Gundogan – Borussia Dortmund – £25m
The German international midfielder would be an ideal signing at the Emirates Stadium before the transfer window shuts on the 2 September as Wenger seeks to recruit a premium addition to his side this summer.
Gundogan, 22, was an influential member of the Dortmund side that reached the Champions League final last season and as one of the most-sought after midfield talents in Europe, his current boss Jurgen Klopp will be desperate to keep the player who offers both silk and steel to his midfield.
The former Nuremberg man, who has made 81 appearances in his two seasons at the Westfalenstadion, is establishing himself as a regular in the German national side collecting eight caps already.
While Dortmund are keen to tie down the impressive midfielder maestro to a longer term contract, a bid in the region of £25m could prove enough to pry Gundogan away from BVB.
The virtuoso is known for his creativity, movement, range of passing and superb skill which allows him to comfortably set the tempo for the Dortmund side and he could act as a long-term replacement for 31-year-old Mikel Arteta at the Emirates Stadium,
Arsenal would offer a similar philosophy of football to what has experienced with Klopp’s Dortmund side and he could act as the perfect foil for Jack Wilshere as he further develops into a world-class footballer but Wenger will be concerned about paying out a large transfer fee and high wages for the classy midfielder.