According to reports, Arsenal are planning to make significant changes during the summer transfer window, targeting four new additions alongside six exits. In what has been an incredible season thus far, the Gunners currently maintain a two-point advantage over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League standings also having a game in hand.
And while the title is now their focus, it must not be forgotten that Champions League qualification is all but secured. With the possible revenue from the Champions League, Mikel Arteta intends to completely rebuild the Arsenal roster this summer by adding at least four players. The Spaniard wants to bring in two central midfielders, a winger and a left-back at the end of the season.
Arsenal’s prime focus remains Rice, while sales are also expected to be given priority
Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo are two players that have been explicitly named as targets in the report by The Times. With Rice, 24, Arsenal are confident that they can pip Chelsea for the midfielder with a £80 million offer. Also, the Gunners plan to rekindle their interest in Brighton’s Moises Caicedo, who was hotly pursued last month, with even two bids in the range of £70m-£80m rejected by the Seagulls.
It is unclear who else they will pursue, but names they are linked to include Inter Milan wingback Denzel Dumfries, Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Real Valladolid defender Ivan Fresneda, Napoli striker Victor Osimhen. After the conclusion of the current campaign, there will also likely be a large-scale offloading from the Emirates. Left-back Kieran Tierney is anticipated to be among the players at the top of that list of departures.
Only four Premier League games this season have seen the 25-year-old Scot start, thanks to his injury woes and Oleksandr Zinchenko’s introduction. Yet given their desire to recoup the £25 million they paid on him four years ago, Arsenal are not anticipated to let him leave at a bargain. Defending league champions Manchester City were reportedly interested in signing Tierney and could now use their brilliant relationship with the Gunners to pursue a deal.
Albert Sambi Lokinga and Nuno Tavares, who are on loan at Crystal Palace and Marseille respectively, are set to be the next two sales. Also leaving is academy striker Folarin Balogun, who is thriving on loan with Reims. He is currently ranked second among Ligue 1’s leading scorers and will not want to go back to North London where he would be the backup to Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah.
Emile Smith Rowe, who has played less than 100 minutes this season due to injury, requires Arteta to make a choice. Granit Xhaka might also make a shock departure if his contract problem is not settled. The 30-year-old Swiss might leave if Rice and Caicedo join Thomas Partey and winter recruit Jorginho as options for Arsenal in the middle of the park in the summer.