The January transfer window closed just 10 days back and once again the Arsenal fans were left disappointed. Arsene Wenger signed just one player – a much needed defensive midfielder in FC Basel’s Mohamed Elneny, but in spite of the Gunners’ visible lack of options in front of goal, the Arsenal boss chose not to make any new additions.
Arsenal were at top of the table on the first of January but a poor run of form has seen them slip to third. Arsenal are 5 points behind surprise league leaders Leicester City and winning the title seems to be a Herculean task. However, this is Arsenal’s best chance of winning the league for a few reasons: Manchester city have already announced the arrival of Pep Guardiola and we know how difficult it is to beat Pep Guardiola’s teams. Manchester United will also hire a new manager possibly Jose Mourinho and they will be very very strong once again.
Reigning champions Chelsea are having a terrible season but this is definitely a one-off and Chelsea will be back to their best next season. If all these factors did not make winning the Premier League difficult, the Big Money TV deal which kicks off next season is surely going to make things difficult. This is why we have compiled a list of 5 targets that Arsenal could go for in the summer to make them genuine title contenders.
Pierre Emerick Aubameyang
Arsenal were stongly linked with the Borussia Dortmund striker in the January transfer window and it would make no sense for Arsenal to not come back for him in the summer transfer window. Aubameyang is currently one of the hottest properties in Europe thanks to his stellar season with Dortmund. The African Player of the Year is the top scorer of the Bundesliga this season (so far) and if Arsenal manage to get him on board, they will become one of the strongest teams in Europe. He wouldn’t come in cheaply though, and can cost Arsenal as much as £50m. Imagine a front three of Alexis Sanchez, Aubameyang and Theo Walcott.
Victor Wanyama
It seems that every summer Arsene Wenger makes a Southampton midfielder his priority and this one is no different. Several media outlets have reported that Arsenal’s top summer target is Victor Wanyama. The Kenyan’s displays for Southampton have been amazing this season and he can be Arsenal’s next Patrick Vieira. Arsenal fans have been complaining about the absence of a holding midfielder ever since Vieira left but they won’t be complaining any more if Arsenal sign Wanyama. Francis Coquelin has done an incredibly good job but he can’t marshal the midfield on his own all season.
Daniele Rugani
The Juventus defender has been on the radar of Arsenal for quite some time now and a summer move for the Italian centre-back would be a good option for the Gunners. The young centre-back shone at his loan spell for Empoli but has been unable to break into the Juventus first team. At just 21 years of age, Rugani can be one for the future.
Dimitri Payet
Arsenal have also been linked with a move for West Ham star Dimitri Payet. Payet has been in sensational form for the Hammers and is attracting a lot of interest from a number of clubs. Last season too Payet ad been in amazing form for Marseille and made the most key passes (134) in Europe’s top 5 leagues. Payet was in the Ligue 1 team of the year for two consecutive seasons and is well on his way to being in the Premier League team of the season as well. The Hammers got a bargain when they signed him for just £10.7m and Arsenal will have to shell out a hefty sum if they are to prise him away from them.
Aymeric Laporte
The central defender, like Rugani, would be a signing for the future given that Arsenal already have three top-class defenders in Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny and Gabriel. Laporte plays for Athletic Bilbao and will cost the Gunners a lot of money because he has been attracting a lot of interest from top European sides including Manchester United and Barcelona.