Mikel Arteta can prepare for a serious injection of transfer cash with the Arsenal boss in the clear to make three big-name signings once the Declan Rice deal has gone through....CONTINUE READING
The Gunners are hoping to act swiftly this summer to strengthen their squad. Their 2023 title aspirations just came up short, with Manchester City beating them on their way to a historic Treble.
And while Arsenal fans will always argue the title was never a realistic goal, plans are being put in place to ensure Arsenal can make an equally as strong a push next season.
Now it seems they are closing in on the first signing of the summer in Rice. Per reports, the Gunners will pay a club-record fee for the West Ham captain. And once add-ons are taken into account, Arteta will be shelling out just over £100m for the 24-year-old.
Indeed, Fabrizi Romano revealed on Monday that the deal for Rice will be a straight cash sale. That’s after Arsenal ruled out the possibility of a frozen out star making the switch to West Ham as part of the deal.
The England midfielder now looks poised to sign for the Gunners on a five-year deal, worth around £300,000 a week. It will elevate him alongside Bukayo Saka as the club’s top earner.
However, Arteta will not be stopping there with plans also in place to strengthen other areas of the side. And the Daily Express reports that the club’s owner Stan Kroenke has backed plans to spend around £250m this summer.
It is no secret that Arteta also wants to strengthen at full-back and Leicester’s Timothy Castagne looks set to be the next one through the door.
Arsenal want three more after Declan Rice transfer
The Belgian has been cleared to leave relegated Leicester for a fee of around £20m. Capable of playing at both left-back and right-back, his versatility very much appeals to Arteta.
Indeed, he looks the more likely to sign, ahead of other options Joao Cancelo and Sacha Boey, both of whom Arsenal have considered.
Following on from him, Arteta is also desperate to strengthen in central defence. The Gunners looked weak there in the closing weeks of the season and once William Saliba succumbed to injury.
And with question marks hanging over Rob Holding’s abilities at the very top level, Arsenal are reportedly eyeing a raid on Crystal Palace for Marc Guehi.
Signing the England defender, however, will not come cheap with a fee of around £50m needed to lure him across London.
In addition, Arteta is still in the market for yet another midfield enforcer. And while Rice’s signing was thought to spell the end of their chase for Moises Caicedo, the Express claims the opposite is actually true.
Indeed, Arsenal will look to bring in the Brighton powerhouse – and are seemingly set to spend £80m on him.
That will see the Gunners fielding a new central midfield axis next season with Rice alongside Caicedo.
With Granit Xhaka likely to return to the Bundesliga, that will leave Jorginho and Thomas Partey in reserve.
However, a combination of all four players can be utilised next season. And that will present Arteta further strength in depth in an area he feels he has previously lacked.
