Liverpool set to hijack Arsenal summer plans

Robin Bairner

• 2 Feb 2022 03:24 CST
• 3 min read

Arsenal’s summer transfer plans have already become more complicated with the news that Liverpool are planning to hijack moves for two of their key targets.

The Gunners have already earmarked the players that they wish to sign in the post-season period to strengthen their ranks for the 2022/23 season following a January transfer window in which sporting director Edu was criticised as they missed out on a string of targets.

Arsenal fans, though, may need to get used to that feeling, with Liverpool eyeing midfield pair Aurelien Tchouameni of Monaco and Youri Tielemans of Leicester.

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The Mirror reports that the Gunners are interested in both but will struggle to beat the Reds to either should the Anfield club make their desire to the pair formal.

Liverpool are expected to upgrade areas of their squad in the summer. They already moved to sign Porto winger Luis Diaz in January, while Fabio Carvalho is expected to follow from Fulham, even though a move broke down on Deadline Day.

Jurgen Klopp is now turning his attention to his midfield options and is reportedly willing to pay up to £118 million to land the midfield pair.

With the Reds destined for the Champions League and clearly in a stronger position to win trophies in the medium-term, they are likely to be the preferred destination in an arm wrestle between the clubs.

Arsenal set for summer transfer headache

Arsenal’s need for a central midfielder, though, is set to only be a secondary priority during the summer transfer window due to their chronic lack of forwards.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was banished to Barcelona during January, leaving Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah as the only two forwards on their books to finish the season. Both players have deals that expire in the summer and there is no guarantee that Arsenal will want to keep either.

Dusan Vlahovic embarrassingly ignored Arsenal’s approach in favour of a switch to Juventus, while the London side also failed to land Alexander Isak as they refused to meet the Real Sociedad striker’s release clause.

As such, Arsenal’s focus is likely to be on a No.9 first and foremost, although there is little doubt that landing either Tchouameni or Tielemans is also important to them.