How do you strengthen a title-winning team? That’s the question facing Arsenal in the summer transfer window.
The Gunners have already made two signings, bringing in goalkeeper Illan Meslier on a free transfer and then spending £34m on winger Christos Tzoris. But they don’t stop.
Arsenal are prepared to offer Bruno Guimarães £70m after agreeing personal terms with the eager-to-join midfielder. However, after selling Anthony Gordon to Barcelona and Sandro Tonali to Tottenham, it is almost certain that it would take a much higher transfer fee for Newcastle to let go of another key player.
And Guimarães is not Arsenal’s only hot target. Manager Mikel Arteta has been chasing Julián Alvarez for several months, with Atletico Madrid reportedly demanding more than £120m after rejecting bids from Real Madrid and Barcelona.
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The Gunners are looking to strengthen their defense as well, and unless Arsenal sign a centre-back who can also play at full-back, the summer window will not materialize. Free agents John Stones and Aston Villa ace Ezri Konsa have been linked with signings this week, with Newcastle’s Tino Libramento a long-term target.
Arsenal’s reinforcement activities will naturally lead to his release. Víctor Göqueres is the likely candidate to leave the club, and could be used in a player-plus-cash deal with Alvarez.
Ben White, Riccardo Calafioli and Gabriel Martinelli have also been linked with departures. Leandro Trossard left Emirates last week to join Turkish giants Besiktas in a £15.3m deal.
Can Arsenal win the Premier League with this lineup? Please share your thoughts in the comments section.
Arsenal have long-standing interest in Julian Alvarez (Image: Alex Livesey – Danehouse/Getty Images)
In Arsenal’s dream eleven, David Raya would undoubtedly defend his goal position, with Livramento, William Saliba (once he returns from injury), Gabriel Magalhães and Piero Hincapie forming the back four. In midfield, Declan Rice will have a new partner in Guimarães, while Martin Odegaard will play as a number 10.
On the outside, Bukayo Saka and Tsolis are in pole position and could potentially flank Alvarez, who emerged as a target on Friday, or Ollie Watkins. However, there is speculation that Arsenal could turn to Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola after Morgan Rodgers missed out on a move to Chelsea.
But when it comes to dreams, Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz is reportedly Arteta’s ideal player and can offer attacking versatility. Eberechi Eze is also an option on the left wing and cost up to £67.5m last summer.
Arsenal could line up like this
Arsenal co-chairman Josh Kroenke has admitted the club will not stand still after ending their 22-year wait to win the Premier League. “If you win something, the sun will rise the next day,” Kroenke explained in May.
“You’ve got to get back to work and there’s a lot of teams trying to beat you, including some of the historically great teams in the Premier League. We’re going to try to get better because we know the teams around us are going to get better. If you’re not continually trying to evolve and improve, you’re stuck.”
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