Mikel Arteta has identified the three players he wants to bring in this summer as he looks to make his own stamp on the Arsenal squad he inherited from Unai Emery.
The Gunners boss is looking to add a wealth of experience to the team and is intent on switching to a 4-3-3 system next season, as he continues implement his own style of play.
According to The Times, Arteta has identified Philippe Coutinho, Atletico Madrid’s Thomas Partey and Chelsea winger Willian as the men to help transform his side as they look to build on their FA Cup triumph.
With Coutinho now exiled by Barcelona, Arsenal could snap up the Brazilian this summer, with recent reports suggesting that the former Liverpool star could cost as little as £9million. A loan deal is also being mooted should Barcelona not receive an offer in the region of their valuation of the player.
The Catalan giants are hoping to sell Coutinho permanently but are aware that clubs may not be able to part with a significant transfer fee in this current financial climate and could instead look to loan him out for another season – he joined Bayern on loan last August.
In the centre of the park, Partey is being seen as the man to take over from Matteo Guendouzi after the Frenchman lost his place in the squad due to attitude issues. He was accused of taunting Brighton players over their wages during a Premier League clash.
Another veteran Arteta is keen on bringing in is Willian, whose current deal at Stamford Bridge is set to expire after Chelsea’s second leg against Bayern Munich in the Champions League last-16 on August 8.
While he remains locked in contract talks with the Blues over extending his stay at the club, Arsenal are one of the front-runners to land the Brazilian should he not be offered a new deal. He wants three years at Chelsea, who are only offering two.
STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND – MARCH 18: Willian of Chelsea celebrates at full-time following the Premier League match between Stoke City and Chelsea at Bet365 Stadium on March 18, 2017 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Chris Brunskill Ltd/Getty Images)
Arteta is also hoping to extend Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s stay at the Emirates by offering the Gabon striker a new £250,000-a-week deal.
Aubameyang’s current £180,000-a-week deal expires next summer but his contract includes a 12-month extension clause.
It is reported that Arsenal must trigger the clause by December 31, which would then see his wages go up significantly.
With bonus fees involved this could cost the club around £20m for one season, after which Aubameyang could still leave.
Arteta knows he must sell players to generate the money required to land his first-choice transfer targets — and he could even ship out Alexandre Lacazette or Hector Bellerin if a sizeable offer is made for either player.
Sokratis, Guendouzi, Lucas Torreira, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Sead Kolasinac — as well as Shkodran Mustafi and Rob Holding, who have played key roles for Arteta in recent weeks — are also in the shop window.
Arsenal want to sell Mesut Ozil, but their hopes of offloading the former Germany playmaker — and his £350,000-a-week salary — appear slim after his agent insisted Ozil would see out the final season of his contract.
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