Ex-Arsenal player Nigel Winterburn has suggested that Arsenal will need to sign at least five players to be able to get back amongst the big boys.
Arsenal narrowly missed out on a top-four spot this season but Mikel Arteta needs to do some serious rebuilding to keep up with the likes of Spurs and Manchester United. While Spurs have already made some good signings, Man United continue to be linked with some of the biggest players in Europe.
Winterburn believes at least five new signings are the need of the hour but he’s also raised doubts over Arsenal’s spending capacity this summer.
“Number one has to be a centre-forward, potentially [another signing in the] wide areas,” Winterburn told Express Sport.
“Raphinha’s been mentioned but I’d want another central midfield player, the full-back position and potentially another centre-half. We don’t know what’s happening with [William] Saliba.
“He came with a huge reputation, young player, but we haven’t seen him play, he’s gone back out on loan. The rumours are he’s coming back but it seems a very complicated situation and we need to know what’s happening with him.
“If he’s staying and wants to be here, fine, but if not we’ll need another centre-half. So I’d want another centre-half, two full-backs, a central midfielder and a centre-forward.
“Do I think all those will come? No, because it will cost Arsenal too much money.”
Will Arsenal be able to sign all five players?
Thankfully, the combination of Edu and Mikel Arteta is going a great job in the transfer market because they actively chasing players in each of these areas.
Gabriel Jesus is on the verge of joining from Manchester City and once this deal is officially wrapped up, Arsenal will shift their focus to Leeds winger Raphinha.
Arteta is very keen to bring Raphinha on board and he believes with Barcelona out of the equation, the Gunners will be able to land him as well.
Youri Tielemans is Arsenal’s central midfield priority but they are in no hurry to sign him up because no other club is interested in him right now. Leicester only want £30m for the midfielder and that will not be an issue for the North London club.
Arsenal are also actively Ajax defender Lisandro Martinez and the 24-year-old can play as a centre-back as well as a left-back. Also, Bologna’s Aaron Hickey is also being linked with the Gunners.
However, Mikel Arteta will not be sweating too much with the defensive areas because he has William Saliba as a backup so if Arsenal fail to land a new central defender then Arteta will just stop Saliba from moving out on another loan spell.
The North London side are working very swiftly and efficiently in the transfer market and this has to be one of the most promising summers for Arsenal in a really long time. As far as funds are concerned, Martinez and Hickey are valued at around £40m and £18m each which is very much within Arsenal’s reach so the only expensive acquisition could be Raphinha from Leeds United.
