Mikel Arteta will be hoping to add a number of new signings to his squad as Arsenal prepare for a return to the Champions League next season. Stan Kroenke is set to back Arteta heavily during the summer transfer window, freeing up a huge budget that could be more than £200 million, as per The Times.
The primary area the Arsenal boss wants to strengthen in is midfield with West Ham captain Declan Rice remaining the club's main target in this area, football.london understands. The Gunners also want to strengthen in defence where football.london understands Marc Guehi is among the targets.
Departures are expected at the Emirates Stadium this summer with Granit Xhaka looking set to leave Arsenal after seven years with the club. The Swiss midfielder is in advanced talks to join Bayer Leverkusen in a €15million (£13million) deal and looks set to sign a contract until 2027 with the German club, football.london understands.
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Thomas Partey's drop off in form towards the end of the season will be a concern for Arsenal and with Xhaka leaving, along with the potential departure of Albert Sambi Lokonga this summer, it could see as many as three new midfielders come into the club. football.london understands that Rice is Arteta's priority for the summer window as the north Londoners look to strengthen their options in the centre of the park, with Brighton's Moises Caicedo also one name on the club's shortlist of options.
A report from The Athletic states that Arsenal are determined to sign both Rice and Chelsea star Mason Mount this summer, but may require an additional player in that department if Xhaka joins Bayer Leverkusen. Mount is entering the final 12 months of his contract at Stamford Bridge and could leave the Blues with Liverpool and the Gunners both registering a strong interest in the 24-year-old.
The report adds that the Gunners hold a concrete interest in Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan and Arteta is the driving factor behind it, having worked with the 32-year-old German at the Etihad Stadium and identified him as the ideal replacement for Xhaka. Gundogan lifted the Premier League trophy at the weekend following City's 1-0 win against Chelsea and is not short of options this summer with Barcelona keen on signing the German playmaker.
It seems as though Arsenal's shortlist for midfielders this summer has now been revealed. Rice, Mount, Caicedo and Gundogan are all brilliant players - but it will be difficult for the Gunners to sign each player with rival clubs' interest and huge fees involved in each deal.
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