ARSENAL TRANSFER PLAN
Xhaka IN, Ospina OUT: Arsenal's summer transfer plans
The Gunners are set to sign the Borussia
Monchengladbach midfielder to kick off their summer spending, with the
Colombia international goalkeeper set to leave the club
Ten
points was the difference between Premier League champions Leicester
and second placed Arsenal in 2015-16 as the Gunners secured their
highest finish in the league for over a decade.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will point to the league table as a
mark of the club's improvement on the pitch but he knows that new
signings are needed to bolster the squad ahead of the 2016-17 campaign.
Arsenal could have pushed Claudio Ranieri's side closer if they converted more of the 146 chances created by playmaker Mesut Ozil. Indeed, Ozil created more chances than any other player in a single Premier League season (since 2003-04) and while there is no doubt that Olivier Giroud remains a more than capable striker, it is paramount that Wenger signs a talented goalscorer to rival the Frenchman next season.
A defensive midfielder is incoming with Mohamed Elneny away for the African Cup of Nations in January and the departures of Mikel Arteta, Mathieu Flamini and Tomas Rosicky leave a gap in midfield. At centre back, Wenger has faith in young Calum Chambers but could still dip into the market for an experienced reinforcement.
A senior city analyst recently revealed that the rumoured £200m transfer fund Arsenal reportedly have is misleading and instead, the estimated cash figure available for signings current totals £54m. However, we understand that the figure speculated is considerably more due to guarantees from TV and commercial earnings.
CONFIRMED DEALS
Granit Xhaka will become the first signing of the transfer window for Arsenal after weeks of talks with Borussia Monchengladbach. A fee in the region of €43m (£33.2m) including add-ons has been agreed and the Swiss international will sign an £80,000-a-week, four-year deal to keep him at the Emirates until 2020.
He'll bring much needed steel to the Arsenal midfield and will rival Francis Coquelin and Mohamed Elneny for a place in the team, although it's likely that he will quickly become the club's first-choice defensive midfielder.
The departures of Rosicky, Flamini and Arteta will all be confirmed when their deals expire at the end of June, with the latter set to take up a coaching role alongside Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
In terms of contract extensions, Alexis Sanchez is the closest to signing a new deal with the club and could put pen to paper after the Copa America tournament in America this summer. Similarly, Ozil will wait until after the Euros to see what kind of ambition is shown in the transfer market before he agrees to a new contract.
THE ARRIVALS
Xhaka is expected to be the first of several signings this summer as Arsenal look to bolster their forward line and defence. Juventus striker Alvaro Morata has been heavily linked but Wenger remains cautious of paying over the odds for a player who could cost anything up to €50m (£38m) if Real Madrid decide to activate their buy back clause this summer.
Some have criticised the Spaniard's goal record in Serie A last season but it's worth nothing that he only started 22 games, making 20 substitute appearances, scoring nine goals and laying on nine assists.
AZ Alkmaar striker Vincent Janssen has scored 27 goals in 34 appearances since making his debut for the Eredivisie side in 2015 and has been scouted several times by the Gunners. He would be a more affordable option for Wenger, but perhaps more of a risk as the Dutchman is just 21-years-old.
The club are also hopeful of adding numbers to their defence and have already tested Bolton's resolve by bidding £750,000 for Rob Holding. The 20-year-old is certainly one for the future and wouldn't be the experienced back-up many have asked for. Kostas Manolas is on the shortlist but Chelsea lead the race for him having held extensive meetings with the players representatives.
THE DEPARTURES
Wojciech Szczesny's comments about 'learning more in four months under Luciano Spalletti than in 10 years in England' won't serve him well ahead of next season. Roma are in negotiations with Arsenal to sign the goalkeeper on a permanent deal but deem his €3m-a-year wages as problematic. Unless the Pole is prepared to take a wage cut, he will be forced to challenge Petr Cech for the No.1 spot next season.
Fellow shot stopper David Ospina is another player who has requested a move away from Arsenal and is unlikely to go anywhere unless Szczesny's departure is confirmed. Turkish side Galatasaray have shown interest in the Colombian international.
Wenger wants Theo Walcott to stay despite not being included in England's Euro 2016 squad following an underwhelming season, while Jack Wilshere is on the verge of signing a new contract with the club.
Meanwhile, Giroud has requested a meeting with the Arsenal manager before he jets off to France's Euro 2016 camp where he wants assurances on his position as the Gunners' first choice striker.
HOW THE TEAM WILL LOOK
Arsenal could have pushed Claudio Ranieri's side closer if they converted more of the 146 chances created by playmaker Mesut Ozil. Indeed, Ozil created more chances than any other player in a single Premier League season (since 2003-04) and while there is no doubt that Olivier Giroud remains a more than capable striker, it is paramount that Wenger signs a talented goalscorer to rival the Frenchman next season.
A defensive midfielder is incoming with Mohamed Elneny away for the African Cup of Nations in January and the departures of Mikel Arteta, Mathieu Flamini and Tomas Rosicky leave a gap in midfield. At centre back, Wenger has faith in young Calum Chambers but could still dip into the market for an experienced reinforcement.
A senior city analyst recently revealed that the rumoured £200m transfer fund Arsenal reportedly have is misleading and instead, the estimated cash figure available for signings current totals £54m. However, we understand that the figure speculated is considerably more due to guarantees from TV and commercial earnings.
Granit Xhaka will become the first signing of the transfer window for Arsenal after weeks of talks with Borussia Monchengladbach. A fee in the region of €43m (£33.2m) including add-ons has been agreed and the Swiss international will sign an £80,000-a-week, four-year deal to keep him at the Emirates until 2020.
He'll bring much needed steel to the Arsenal midfield and will rival Francis Coquelin and Mohamed Elneny for a place in the team, although it's likely that he will quickly become the club's first-choice defensive midfielder.
The departures of Rosicky, Flamini and Arteta will all be confirmed when their deals expire at the end of June, with the latter set to take up a coaching role alongside Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
In terms of contract extensions, Alexis Sanchez is the closest to signing a new deal with the club and could put pen to paper after the Copa America tournament in America this summer. Similarly, Ozil will wait until after the Euros to see what kind of ambition is shown in the transfer market before he agrees to a new contract.
Xhaka is expected to be the first of several signings this summer as Arsenal look to bolster their forward line and defence. Juventus striker Alvaro Morata has been heavily linked but Wenger remains cautious of paying over the odds for a player who could cost anything up to €50m (£38m) if Real Madrid decide to activate their buy back clause this summer.
Some have criticised the Spaniard's goal record in Serie A last season but it's worth nothing that he only started 22 games, making 20 substitute appearances, scoring nine goals and laying on nine assists.
AZ Alkmaar striker Vincent Janssen has scored 27 goals in 34 appearances since making his debut for the Eredivisie side in 2015 and has been scouted several times by the Gunners. He would be a more affordable option for Wenger, but perhaps more of a risk as the Dutchman is just 21-years-old.
The club are also hopeful of adding numbers to their defence and have already tested Bolton's resolve by bidding £750,000 for Rob Holding. The 20-year-old is certainly one for the future and wouldn't be the experienced back-up many have asked for. Kostas Manolas is on the shortlist but Chelsea lead the race for him having held extensive meetings with the players representatives.
Wojciech Szczesny's comments about 'learning more in four months under Luciano Spalletti than in 10 years in England' won't serve him well ahead of next season. Roma are in negotiations with Arsenal to sign the goalkeeper on a permanent deal but deem his €3m-a-year wages as problematic. Unless the Pole is prepared to take a wage cut, he will be forced to challenge Petr Cech for the No.1 spot next season.
Fellow shot stopper David Ospina is another player who has requested a move away from Arsenal and is unlikely to go anywhere unless Szczesny's departure is confirmed. Turkish side Galatasaray have shown interest in the Colombian international.
Wenger wants Theo Walcott to stay despite not being included in England's Euro 2016 squad following an underwhelming season, while Jack Wilshere is on the verge of signing a new contract with the club.
Meanwhile, Giroud has requested a meeting with the Arsenal manager before he jets off to France's Euro 2016 camp where he wants assurances on his position as the Gunners' first choice striker.
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