Arsenal head coach Unai Emery must focus on strengthening his side this summer.
Arsenal have conceded 49 goals in 36 Premier League games, and three in each of their last three which means that they have defensive issues to be solved.
The problem is that Emery does not have a great deal of money to work with, especially if the Gunners miss out on Champions League qualification once again. However, the Spaniard has an option to sell a number of current players, including Mesut Ozil, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Shkodran Mustafi. Here are the thee most possible targets who could be on their way to the Emirates. But how Emery's squad will look?
- Nicolas Tagliafico
One of the most obvious targets for the Gunners this summer is the Argentine ace, who has been a valuable member of the Dutch side’s Champions League run.
A late bloomer, he only moved to Europe last January but he’s impressed contributed 2.4 tackles per game, two interceptions per game, while also offering good offensive outputs too, with 1.1 key passes per match. Ajax are unlikely to let a player who cost £3.5million leave on the cheap, however, and will want in excess of £15million for the talented left-back.
- Nicolas Pepe
Emery will be on the look out for a winger, having had his fingers singed by the flop loan deal for Denis Suarez and the most possible target is Lille winger Nicolas Pepe. The Ivory Coast international has been regularly linked with a move to the Emirates but Arsenal could face a competition from the likes of Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain.
According to recent reports, if Gunners want Pepe, they will have to pay at least €80m – an asking price set by Lille’s sporting director Luis Campos.
The winger who has been heavily linked with a move to north London, is enjoying the best season of his life with 21 goals and 12 assists in 37 games.
The 23-year-old is expected to leave the Ligue 1 outfit at the end of the season, as the club's president has already admitted the club are resigned to losing him.
- Gabriel Martinelli (Ituano)
Arsenal intensify their interest in Ituano striker Gabriel Martinelli. Unai Emery’s side is one of 25 clubs interested in securing Martinelli’s services. Despite the competition, the Gunners are said to be the closest to getting the 17-year-old hotshot on board. It seems Arsenal could, though, beat eight Brazilian and 16 other European clubs, which include four more from England, to Martinelli’s signature.
His agent, Marcos Casseb, has revealed he is planning for his client to head across the Atlantic.
“To be honest we expected that to happen,” Casseb said. “His evolution since last year is very fast, he is above average. The initial planning is for him to go straight to Europe.”
