Gunners boss ‘encouraged’ to spend big on defensive signings in January.Arsenal could have £50m to spend on new defensive signings this January, with Arsene Wenger encouraged by the club’s board to improve the team’s weak points at the back and midfield.
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The Gunners have looked suspect in defence so far this season, with the team leaking goals in all their Premier League games so far, with set pieces looking a particular problem for Wenger’s men.
The club invested heavily in attacking signings such as Alexis Sanchez and Danny Welbeck this summer, but look short of options further back after selling Thomas Vermaelen to Barcelona and losing Bacary Sagna on a free transfer to Manchester City.
Arsenal also missed out on some big-name targets such as Sami Khedira, Chris Smalling and Kostas Manolas, leaving them desperately thin in terms of squad depth in that position, with the news of a three-month injury to Mathieu Debuchy also convincing senior figures at the club that further spending is necessary.
With plenty to spend on new players, here are four big-name targets that could be on Wenger’s radar when the transfer window re-opens.
4) Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund)
An ambitious target, Arsenal could rival Manchester United and other clubs for the signing of £20m-rated Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels, who was also linked with the club during the summer. The 25-year-old would be a superb addition and really push the likes of Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny for a first-team place.
3) Chris Smalling (Manchester United)
A player linked with Arsenal in the summer, it is thought that Arsene Wenger remains keen on the signing of out-of-favour Manchester United defender Chris Smalling. The versatile England international can fill in at centre-back or right-back, and could be a useful addition for the club after Mathieu Debuchy’s injury.
2) Matija Nastasic (Manchester City)
A possible last resort for Arsenal, the Gunners are still keeping an eye on Matija Nastasic’s situation at Manchester City. The Serbian youngster has not kicked on after a strong first season at the Etihad Stadium back in 2012/13, but Arsene Wenger is still a fan of the player and could bring him in as a useful squad rotation player at the back.
1) William Carvalho (Sporting Lisbon)
With a defensive midfielder needed as well as signings in defence, Sporting Lisbon starlet William Carvalho remains Arsenal’s top target in the middle of the park, with recent reports suggesting that talks have progressed smoothly in recent days and the Portuguese international could join up with the club in January.