Arsenal plot summer spending spree to bolster three key positions

Tom Weber

• 17 Feb 2024 11:32 GMT
• 4 min read

Arsenal are keen to reinforce their side with a new striker, midfielder and winger in the summer.

After a December slump, the Gunners have clawed their way back to the upper echelons of the Premier League, sitting just two points off league leaders Liverpool. Arsenal are firmly back in the title race - in truth, they never left - and are heading into the final months of the campaign with wind in their sails.

Yet, planning for the summer and the subsequent campaign is already underway. Mikel Arteta and sporting director Edu are not willing to rest on their laurels and they already have a rough idea of where they want to strengthen the side in the next transfer window, when the Gunners will be able to spend big again, something that proved impossible in January.

According to The Mirror, Arteta is keen to reinforce three positions in his squad: striker, winger and midfield, with at least four players already locked in as summer targets.

Arsenal's big summer

Despite smashing the club's transfer record in 2023 with the acquisition of Declan Rice from West Ham, while Kai Havertz also arrived for big money, Arsenal will target another midfielder in 2024.

Though Mikel Arteta adores Aston Villa's Douglas Luiz, the Basque coach's compatriot Martin Zubimendi will likely be a more attainable target. The Real Sociedad star has a €60 million release clause and has been eyed by the Gunners for at least a year.

For the striker position, Ivan Toney has long since been touted as the perfect option for the north London club and the 27-year-old will definitely leave Brentford in the summer. The problem is that Arsenal aren't the only ones keen, with Man Utd and Chelsea also firmly in the race to land him.

Arteta is also ready to sign adequate cover for Bukayo Saka, who has been forced to be something of the Gunners' iron man in recent seasons. Athletic Club's Nico Williams is one of the options being considered and he could reportedly be available for as little as €50m.

Pedro Neto is a long-standing target, but he won't come cheap. As FootballTransfers exclusively revealed, Wolves will demand a club-record fee to let go of the Portuguese assist machine.