Arsenal transfer guide: Declan Rice wanted in double midfield boost to lead £200m spending spree
Arsenal are set for a busy summer transfer window as they bid to mount another title challenge next season.
The Gunners could spend £200million on new recruits, with owners the Kroenkes ready to throw their support behind manager Mikel Arteta.
West Ham captain Declan Rice is their No1 target and his signing would be a real statement of intent.
Players are expected to leave to help finance incomings and the likes of Folarin Balogun and Kieran Tierney are drawing plenty of interest.
Top priority
Midfield. Arsenal suffered from a lack of depth there this season, with summer signing Fabio Vieira failing to deliver.
Rice would bring some added dynamism and physicality to the middle of the park, as well as leadership.
Arsenal are looking at possibly signing two midfielders, given Granit Xhaka could leave for Bayer Leverkusen.
Arteta wants to add goals to his midfield, and it is why creative players like Ilkay Gundogan and Mason Mount are on their shortlist.
What else they need
A new centre-back is needed given how much Arsenal suffered this season when William Saliba was out injured.
Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi is of interest, while the Gunners have also scouted Dinamo Zagreb defender Josip Sutalo.
There is desire to sign a new forward to provide competition for Bukayo Saka, who played every Premier League game this season. Leverkusen’s Moussa Diaby is a possible solution there.
A new left-back could be also be required if the club decide to cash in on Tierney, who has lost his place in the team to Oleksandr Zinchenko. They could also look to sign a right-back.
Possible ins
Arsenal will hope to negotiate West Ham down from their £120m asking price for Rice.
It is harder to call who Arsenal will sign for their second midfield slot. Gundogan and Mount are targets, but the club also hold an interest in Brighton’s Moises Caicedo.
Guehi is an attractive option in defence given that he is a homegrown player, however Palace’s £50m asking price may prove a stumbling block. Leverkusen forward Diaby is expected to go for a similar price.
In their search for a right-back, Arsenal are interested in Real Valladolid’s Ivan Fresneda and Galatasaray’s Sacha Boey.
Possible outs
A number of players face uncertain futures as Arsenal look to bolster their squad.
In defence, Cedric Soares, Rob Holding and Tierney could all be the subject of offers that tempt the club into selling.
Xhaka is a target for Leverkusen, while Ainsley Maitland-Niles is leaving as his contract has expired.
Emile Smith Rowe is due for talks over his future and Reiss Nelson could depart if he does not agree terms on a new deal.
Nicolas Pepe is up for sale after a year on loan at Nice. Academy graduates Charlie Patino and Balogun could also be on the move.
