It might not be the summer yet but the transfer rumour generator is in full swing, with a report today claiming Arsenal are currently scouting seven potential summer signings from a variety of different clubs.
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It’s not clear just how many the Gunners would be willing to sign but given their current form trajectory means they look set to miss out on the Premier League title by just a handful of points, you would imagine the north Londoners may want to make quite a significant investment to ensure they are fighting for top honours from the off rather than so late in the season.
Here’s the seven targets that Arsene Wenger is reportedly perusing that could just see Arsenal return to the pinnacle of English football:
Neven Subotic – Borussia Dortmund
Scouted this season as Arsenal look to rejig their back-line to provide a more robust and reliable defence. The Serbian has been a key part of the BVB set up for several years and has impressively come back stronger from a serious knee injury.
The club are said to see him as a long-term replacement for the ageing Per Mertesacker.
Morgan Schneiderlin – Southampton
The Gunners main transfer target this summer but it would require a bid of around £20 million + to make Southampton relinquish their grip on him.
Arsenal will also have to contend with potential competition from both Tottenham and Manchester United – Champions League could certainly be vital to the Frenchman’s destination!
Lars Bender – Bayer Leverkusen
The Gunners will consider an offer for Bender, presumably if they feel they are unable to acquire Schneiderlin.
There have been concerns over a thigh injury that kept him out of the World Cup but the German now appears fully recovered and so may tempt Arsenal into once again bidding for the midfielder as they did in 2013.
Chris Smalling – Manchester United
Arsene Wenger is certainly keen on the England centre-back first trying to sign him before he moved to Old Trafford and once again last season as part of a deal that would have seen Thomas Vermaelen move to the United.
Reports early this month suggested the Gunners could try once again for the former Fulham man with the Red Devils demanding around £12 million.
Marco Reus – Borussia Dortmund
He may have just signed a new deal with BVB to wipe out the prospect of a release clause but that isn’t going to deter Arsene Wenger who has long admired the German.
It’s a pretty unlikely scenario but with Podolski and Campbell set to depart and the confusion of Theo Walcott’s future there will presumably be at least some vacant spaces in the Arsenal squad.
Just imagine the devastation a frontline of Reus and Sanchez with Ozil pulling the strings from behind. Mouthwatering.
Petr Cech – Chelsea
The Arsenal goalkeeper question is a strange one as at times David Ospina and Wojciech Szczesny have looked a reliable duo between the sticks but then both contrive to do the kind of things that will cause spikes in the heart attack statistics of north London.
Arsenal could do with an experienced and reliable figure to marshall, teach and show the younger shot-stoppers how it’s done; and Cech fits that bill.
The only issues is Chelsea and Jose Mourinho particularly would be reluctant to do business with Arsene Wenger of all people which makes any deal incredibly unlikely.
Christoph Kramer – Borussia Monchengladbach
Another holding midfielder which might just hint Arsene Wenger is after some steely reinforcements in the middle…though knowing him this is just a ploy so he can buy a diminutive, attacking midfielder, as per usuall.
Kramer is probably best known as the man who replaced an injured Sami Khedira at the last minute in the World Cup final before being substituted himself with concussion.