With Arsenal having endured a disappointing season, many fans in the bar are calling for changes across the board with a wealth of new signings and a new man in charge- and it seems like the Gunners are considering both.
Two separate reports presented to the fans in the bar suggest a variety of changes, with Metro stating Southampton boss Ronald Koeman is being lined-up as a replacement for Arsene Wenger, whilst The Telegraph says Arsenal have a transfer kitty of £75m available to spend.
Our punters like the sounds of both reports and are now discussing which five players Koeman could bring to north London with a budget of £75m, should the Gunners board call time on Wenger’s reign and elect the Dutchman as the first new Arsenal boss in two decades.
There’s a lot of ifs and buts surrounding the reports but that’s not stopping our regulars getting carried away and their summer shopping list is certainly an intriguing prospect.
Hit Koeman below to see FIVE players he could sign for Arsenal with £75m!
[ffc-gallery]
[/ffc-gallery]
Granit Xhaka
Borussia Monchengladbach’s Swiss international has been heavily linked with Arsenal in recent weeks, with reports suggesting the Gunners are well into negotiations to sign the 23-year-old combative midfielder.
Arsenal’s midfield ranks have struggled this season, and the depth will decrease dramatically with Mikel Arteta, Mathieu Flamini and Tomas Rosicky set to leave, so it’s likely this area will be the main focus of the Gunners summer spending.
The talented midfielder has a wealth of experience and has captained Gladbach regularly, so he could be a potential future skipper in north London.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Top of Arsenal’s transfer wish-list this summer is a world-class striker, with the Gunners having scored less goals than their top-four rivals this term, and a bargain is available come the end of the season, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s signature available for free.
Whilst Arsenal would have to pay high wages to the 34-year-old Swedish sensation, likely to put the forward as their highest earner, it’s an opportunity that cannot be passed up and reports suggest Arsenal are eyeing a move.
A wealth of English clubs also want the signature of Paris Saint-Germain’s record goalscorer but he wants Champions League football, which Arsenal are in a strong position to secure.
N’Golo Kante
The Leicester City midfielder has excelled in the Premier League this season, earning himself a spot in the PFA Team of the Year and finding himself amongst the finalists for the Player of the Year award, which is a remarkable achievement given it’s the 25-year-old’s first season in English football.
With the latest reports stating Leicester will accept the sale of their star-midfielder, Arsenal have been given a boost and it’s reported they’ve put the French national at the top of their wish-list, though they face immense competition for his services.
Arsenal do need to strengthen their midfield ranks though so it’s a chase they can afford to go all-out in, especially with their depth decreasing this summer with the departure of the aforementioned veteran trio.
Rafinha
The veteran Bayern Munich full-back has found himself playing second-fiddle under Pep Guardiola since the Catalan boss took the reigns in Bavaria and with a managerial shake-up this summer, as Carlo Ancelotti prepares to take over, there’s no guarantee the Brazilian will have a place in the squad.
Interesting reports surfaced this week that suggested Arsenal are preparing to offer a three-year contract to the defender, as the Gunners right-back area of the squad is severely depleted, although they do have PFA Team of the Year defender Hector Bellerin.
Rafinha would compete with Bellerin for a starting spot and provide depth to the squad, with Mathieu Debuchy likely to leave, and given Arsenal’s involvement in a wealth of competitions, there’s certainly playing opportunities available.
Ben Chilwell
Possibly the most Arsenal-like signing on this list, Leicester City’s highly-rated young defender Ben Chilwell has been linked with a move to Arsenal since January. Whilst he wouldn’t necessarily give an immediate boost to the first-team, he’s definitely one to watch in the coming years.
The Gunners currently have the impressive Nacho Monreal as their first-choice left-back but the Spaniard isn’t getting any younger, whilst his understudy, Kieran Gibbs, has been linked with an exit due to limited first-team opportunities.
Chilwell, at 19, would be happy to be understudy to Monreal for a few years as he continues his development before stepping into the first-team frame and it’s a signing that would have Arsenal’s full-back positions cemented for the next decade, with Hector Bellerin on the other flank.
