---
title: "Arsenal: Unai Emery hints at “very expensive” signings"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/arsenal-unai-emery-hints-at-very-expensive-signings/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Stephan Georgiou"
section: "Arsenal Football Club"
published: "2019-07-18T19:40:36Z"
modified: "2019-07-18T19:40:36Z"
---

# Arsenal: Unai Emery hints at “very expensive” signings

**Unai Emery’s recent comments have given the latest insight into Arsenal’s transfer business, with the club potentially lining up a big-money signing, according to the [Gunners boss](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49013991).**

Arsenal have only brought in Brazilian teenager [Gabriel Martinelli](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fc-arsenal/transfers/verein/11/saison_id/2019) so far to show for their efforts in the market this summer – though when speaking during the club’s tour in the United States, Emery suggested that work is being done to add more players to the team.

According to the BBC, Emery [said](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49013991): “Our target is to achieve three or four players who really improve our team and our squad now.

“We are being very, very demanding and we are first speaking about the possibility to sign very big, very expensive players.”

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/THE-BREAKDOWN.png)

With the club thought to have a transfer budget of around [£40m](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48278922) this summer, attracting players to Arsenal so far has been largely unsuccessful, with the club failing to bring in [Wilfried Zaha](https://www.skysports.com/app/transfer/news/12691/11752748/arsenal-launch-40m-bid-for-crystal-palace-forward-wilfried-zaha) for that amount in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, their pursuit of Celtic’s Kieran Tierney continues without a deal materialising – despite [reportedly](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/11763265/celtic-reject-arsenals-25m-kieran-tierney-bid) upping their bid towards the Scottish champions’ [valuation](https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/arsenal-bid-25m-for-kieran-tierney-reports-1-4964462) of £25m for the defender.

Elsewhere, their attempt to sign Saint-Etienne centre-back William Saliba is in doubt following Tottenham’s [interest](https://rmcsport.bfmtv.com/football/saint-etienne-coup-de-theatre-pour-saliba-tottenham-revient-en-force-1729775.html) in the player surfacing last week.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Verdict.png)

What Emery’s idea of ‘expensive’ is remains to be seen, but it may well be that Arsenal end up paying more than they’d like for their reported targets, especially with Celtic baulking at a [price](https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/arsenal-bid-25m-for-kieran-tierney-reports-1-4964462) once thought to meet their requirements to nab left-back Tierney.

Either way, their lowly transfer budget does little to suggest that “three or four” players can join while all being described as “expensive” – particularly as there have been few [outgoings](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fc-arsenal/transfers/verein/11/saison_id/2019) at the club so far to boost the available funds.

On the other hand, Emery’s comments could suggest that a breakthrough somewhere could be on the near horizon for The Gunners – with director Josh Kroenke implying similar undertones through his own [remarks](https://www.arsenal.com/news/our-ambitions-are-silverware-and-trophies) of late.

***What will Arsenal’s line-up look like next season? Join the discussion by commenting below…***