- 22 hours ago
What are Arsenal's summer transfer plans? Arteta's blueprint for Premier League glory revealed
Robin Bairner
- 27 May 2024 01:44 CDT
- 5 min read
Arsenal are set for a busy summer in the transfer market as Mikel Arteta seeks to further close the gap to Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.
The Gunners have finished as runners-up in successive seasons, even taking the title race down to the final day this time around.
But there are no prizes for second and Arteta has his eyes fixed on overtaking his old mentor, Pep Guardiola.
FootballTransfers has revealed that Arsenal will have a record amount of money to spend over the summer, but who are they going to sign?
READ MORE: Latest Arsenal transfer rumours
What players will Arsenal sign this summer?
Arsenal are set to sign several players across their squad this summer, with four main positions targeted for improvement.
Centre-forward was, for a long period, where it seemed that Arteta was ready to spend the bulk of his budget this summer.
There has been serious talk of signing a €100 million player in this area, with Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres one of the names in the frame for the role. Newcastle’s Alexander Isak has been touted as another possibility.
However, Arteta has pivoted in recent weeks to looking at cheaper options.
READ MORE: 10 players who could join Arsenal this summer
Why has he done this? Quite simply, he feels that Kai Havertz is scoring enough goals and that he would be better served investing more heavily in other areas of the team.
As such, Benjamin Sesko of RB Leipzig is one of the players being seriously monitored and is the current priority, FootballTransfers understands. He would cost around half of Gyokeres.
Bologna’s Joshua Zirkzee is another possibility.
Arteta is also seeking backup for Bukayo Saka, who needs to be given more regular relief.
FootballTransfers revealed exclusively Athletic Club star Nico Williams is being sounded out. Competition for the Spain winger is intense, but with a release clause of €60m, he could prove a bargain addition.
Nico typically plays on the left, but both he and Gabriel Martinelli could offer cover for Saka on the right.
READ MORE: Arsenal's 10 most expensive transfers of all time
Current ETV
Nico Williams
M (R), AM (RL)
Athletic
Nico Williams
M (R), AM (RL)
Athletic
ETV Range
€22.8M - €38.1M
Defensive options targeted
In a more defensive sense, Arsenal will need to find a replacement for the departing Thomas Partey.
Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes is the type of player that they want for the role, but they have made it clear that they are not prepared to trigger the release clause of the Brazil international. This effectively rules out a move for him.
With this in mind, Martin Zubimendi is a likelier addition, with the Real Sociedad man boasting a release clause in the region of €60 million.
Just as in the case of Nico Williams, competition for Zubimendi will be intense.
Valencia’s Javi Guerra is another player the Gunners have been linked with, but Los Che’s demands may make a deal tricky.
The rearguard is likely to see less significant change, although at least one full-back could be targeted. Oleksandr Zinchenko has not provided the assurance on the left this season that Arteta might have wished, while Kieran Tierney is set to leave the club after spending a year away on loan at Real Sociedad.
FootballTransfers has also revealed that the Gunners hold an interest in Manchester City’s Yan Couto, who is presently on loan at Girona. He typically plays on the right.
Finally, with Aaron Ramsdale likely to be sold in the summer, a backup goalkeeper will be a necessity. Ajax’s Justin Bijlow is the leading candidate to arrive in this position.
