Arsenal have made it clear that they are planning a major overhaul of their squad this summer, with the aim of avoiding another disappointing season. With revamping their midfield being their top priority, Mikel Arteta has set his sights on signing two new midfielders, with West Ham’s Declan Rice and Brighton’s Moises Caicedo topping his wish list.
According to reports, Arsenal have expressed their interest in starting talks with West Ham over Rice soon, with David Moyes conceding that he expects his captain to depart in the summer. However, the Gunners may have to work hard to convince the Hammers to let Rice go, as West Ham are reportedly demanding £100 million-plus for their prized asset. In contrast, Arsenal’s valuation of Rice is no more than £90 million.
The report also suggests that Caicedo and Rice could cost Arsenal a combined total of £170 million. Though this would undoubtedly be a significant sum for the Gunners to spend, it is notable that if they had offered that amount for both players in January, they may have been able to challenge Manchester City for the Premier League title.
Arsenal’s reported transfer budget of £200 million would not leave them with much money to spare, especially with the need to strengthen their defense and attack. Rumoured targets include Raphinha, Moussa Diaby, and Mason Mount. However, the Gunners intend to raise additional revenue through player sales, with Nicolas Pepe, Granit Xhaka, Kieran Tierney, Emile Smith Rowe, Folarin Balogun, Rob Holding, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Nuno Tavares, and Cedric Soares all reportedly available for transfer.
Meanwhile, Wolves have placed a price tag of £45 million on Ruben Neves, who has been heavily linked with Arsenal in the past. Despite the Gunners’ apparent loss of interest in the midfielder, Neves is still likely to receive several offers this summer, including from Barcelona and possibly Manchester United. However, Wolves are reportedly unwilling to sell him cheaply, even though he is approaching the final year of his contract.
Brighton midfielder Alexis Mac Allister could follow Caicedo out of the club this summer, according to reports. United and Liverpool are said to be interested in the Argentina star, who reportedly wants to play in the Champions League next season. Reports suggest that Brighton would only consider selling him for around £70 million.
In summary, this summer promises to be a busy one for Arsenal as they aim to strengthen their midfield and overhaul their squad to challenge for the Premier League title next season. However, with high valuations being placed on their key targets, and several other top clubs vying for the same players, it remains to be seen how successful their transfer strategy will be.
