Arsenal will turn their focus to the summer transfer window after coming up short in their bid to make the Champions League final at the expense of Paris Saint-Germain
Mikel Arteta will be backed in the transfer market with a big summer spend to turn Arsenal into winners.
The Gunners hierarchy are ready to launch a major squad overhaul after Arsenal missed out on major silverware again with the end of their Champions League campaign. Arsenal crashed out to Paris Saint Germain at the semi final stage and Arteta has now gone five years without a trophy after going close in the title race in the past two seasons.
But Arsenal have identified up to FOUR major signings this summer as they look to strengthen with a huge show of faith in Arteta. But it will also mean several departures after they came up short this season.
Their No1 priority is a centre forward with Arteta a huge admirer of Newcastle’s Alexander Isak but more realistic targets are Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyökeres - who is admired by Arsenal’s sporting director Andrea Berta - and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.
They tried to get Sesko last summer, he opted to stay in Germany for another year and Arsenal paid a heavy price for not signing a striker with Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus getting long term injuries this season.
Arsenal know they must land a striker this time and they also have a left winger in their sights as they have Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams on their radar while they believe a deal is in place to sign Real Sociedad’s Spain midfielder Martin Zubimendi for £51m.
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There is a serious interest in Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen but would have to offload players to get him in and the centre half - who has a £50m buy-out clause - also has concerns about going to a club where his game time may be limited.
Arsenal have got Thomas Partey, Jorginho and Kieran Tierney out of contract this summer and, while Partey may yet extend, exits would free up scope on the wage bill. They will also offload players with Oleksandr Zinchenko likely to leave while there is Saudi interest in Leandro Trossard who only has a year left on his deal and his departure would pave the way for a new left winger.
Jakub Kiwior had looked set to go but has done well in recent weeks although offloading him could help recruit another defender. Takehiro Tomiyasu’s future is uncertain after a long term injury which will keep him out until the end of 2025.
They also want a new No2 keeper to compete and put pressure on No1 David Raya whose form has fallen badly in recent weeks. They have targeted Espanyol’s Joan Garcia.