---
title: "Arsenal: Emery can’t afford to blow his budget on risks like Bourigeaud swoop"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/arsenal-emery-cant-afford-to-blow-his-budget-on-risks-like-bourigeaud-swoop/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Ally Darlow"
section: "Arsenal Football Club"
published: "2019-06-25T20:10:03Z"
modified: "2019-06-26T07:42:08Z"
---

# Arsenal: Emery can’t afford to blow his budget on risks like Bourigeaud swoop

**Arsenal supporters have had it tough when it comes to transfers recently. Ever since Arsene Wenger blew his budget out of the window by purchasing Alexandre Lacazette (*[BBC](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40496970)*) and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (*[BBC](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42859716)*) in consecutive windows, things have looked grim financially, *[as explained in The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jan/18/arsenal-era-austerity-emery-finance-stan-kroenke-champions-league)*.**

The money just isn’t there at The Emirates and with Unai Emery working on a shoestring budget – *[as The Daily Mail claimed in February they had just £45m to spend](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-6667421/Arsenal-boss-Unai-Emery-transfer-budget-just-45m-summer.html)* – it would come as no surprise to see him looking to the likes of Ligue 1 for some bargains, as he did last season with the coy purchase of Matteo Guendouzi (*[Sky Sports](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/11432996/arsenal-sign-midfielder-matteo-guendouzi-from-lorient)*).

This time, though, the player we’re talking about just isn’t the answer for the Gunners, as *[Estadio Deportivo](https://www.estadiodeportivo.com/sevilla/2019/06/22/bourigeaud-piensa-opciones/230835.html)* have claimed that Unai Emery is looking into the signing of £10.8m rated Stade Rennais midfielder, Benjamin Bourigeaud, *[valuation via Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/benjamin-bourigeaud/profil/spieler/266359)*.

The 25-year-old may have posted some respectable numbers for Rennes including six goals and five assists in Ligue 1, but that doesn’t mean a lot if you’re on the way to the Premier League. The historical example of this comes in the form of a man Arsenal signed from Ligue 1, Gervinho.

Back in summer 2011, Arsenal splashed £10.8m (*[BBC](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/13759774)*), the same fee as Bourigueard’s valuation, on the Ivorian after he smashed it for Lille, scoring 15 and assisting 11, *[stats via Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/gervinho/profil/spieler/33481)*. After that move, Gervinho played 63 games for the Gunners, scoring a pathetic 11 times

If that move doesn’t provide Arsenal fans with fear over a move for the Rennes midfield man, then nothing will. We may end up being proved wrong, but it’s not looking good.

***Arsenal fans, do you agree that Bourigeaud isn’t worth the risk? Let us know!***