With Arsene Wenger having a reported £80million warchest to spend this summer, we wanted to see how our writers would spend such a sum if they were in charge. No sales revenue allowed, here’s what they said they would do. Tell us your plans on how you would spend £80million if you were in Wenger’s shoes by commenting at the bottom of this article.
Pranoy Thipaiah
If rumours are true and Cesc is up for sale, 25m is something I wouldn’t turn down. No reasons necessary! Mario Balotelli at £30m would give us a Premier League proven striker, who I personally think Wenger can make one of the best around. As a wide striker option, either Vela or Drmic (3-4m) would add pace, natural width and directness we need. Morgan Schneiderlin at around £12m, who I think is a very underrated player, would be a good true DM to play alongside Ramsey. Plus, he’s French! Serge Aurier would be a good Sagna replacement. He can fill in at CB and LB as well if needed and what he will help most with is the offense. Sagna is a beast, but a bit limited going forward, and I think Aurier would be able to help with goals and assists. Around £10m. If Cesc decides not to leave, I’d take Caulker as a third choice CB, considering Vermaelen is probably looking to move on. I think he will be snapped up by another good team regardless. £10m. In goal, I would go for either the experienced Julio Cesar or the in form Kapser Schmeichel, who bought can arrive on free transfers.
Total: £80million (Fabregas – £25million, Balotelli – £30million, C Vela – £3.5million, Schneiderlin – £12million, Aurier – £10million, Schmeichel – Free)
Steven Scott
With an £80 million war chest in hand; the biggest issue Arsenal needs to address is a top class striker. Giroud’s 20 goals a year aren’t enough for a title-winning team and Arsenal need to invest. I’d go for Mario Mandzukic due to his work rate and goals. I’d also go for Josip Drmic to give us another option for Walcott on the right, as well as more goals. Another big addition that needs to be met is a CDM. Several DM’s are reported to be wanting out of their clubs and the best one of those is Sami Khedira, in my opinion. To replace the imminently leaving Sagna, I’d go for Sebastien Jung. We also need another CB or depth, and I’d buy one of my favourites, Fabian Schär. I see him as a long-term replacement for Mertesacker, as well.
Total: £73 million (Mario Mandzukic – £25m , Josip Drmic – £7m , Sami Khedira – £25m , Sebastien Jung – £8m, Fabian Schär – £8m)
Steve Wallbridge
Firstly John Stones. We need another centre back and with Koscielny, Mertesacker and Vermaelen all in their prime years, we need a young one. John Stones has had a fantastic breakthrough season for Everton this year and would be a brilliant addition to the team. Young, full of potential and English. Lars Bender. We need a quality defensive midfielder. Physical presence coupled with good ability on the ball. Lars Bender is that man. A good all-round player and only 25 years old. Mario Balotelli. It’s hard to know what is true and what is fabricated when it comes to transfer rumours and the press. However, if there were any truth in the Balotelli rumours, I’d love him at Arsenal. A troublemaker, yes; but if there’s one man who can tame him, it’s Arsène Wenger. He’s a top class striker, so regardless of his position at AC Milan, the price tag will be steep.
Total: £75million (J Stones – £15million, L Bender – £20million, M Balotelli – £40million)
Kevin Woodley
Griezmann’s a top player. He’s at the perfect age, in-between developing and prime. And he’s got the pace and goal return that Arsenal have been crying out for. He’s similar to Walcott. And another Walcott is something we could really do with, either as back up, or as a compliment. Balotelli has the talent to become Arsenal’s No.1 striker, or even one of the best – if he can be tamed. He’s an upgrade to the still useful Giroud. He’s got pace, power, and an unerring coolness in front of goal. Everything a world-class striker should have. Giroud does not have all of these. Balotelli does. And if anyone can get the best out of him, it’s Wenger. And he’s also been reported as unhappy at Milan. It was between a defensive midfielder, such as Lars Bender, or Cesc. There’s no doubt Arsenal need that powerhouse in the middle, and Bender can also play across the back four, making him a very useful asset. But if there’s the chance to get Cesc. I want Cesc. The potential of our midfield with him is too electric to turn down.
Total: £80million (Fabregas – £25million, Balotelli – £35million, Griezmann – £20million)
Joe Jackson
Flamini has arguably made as great an effect as Mesut Özil this season, with his leadership skills proving instrumental in Arsenal’s relative success. There is very few of similar ilk to Flamini at Arsenal and I believe that a large proportion of the £80 million should be spent on a tough tackling midfield player. With rumours allegedly flying around about the unhappiness of Javi Martinez at Bayern Munich he would be the perfect fit for Arsenal. Combining brawn with beauty Javi Martinez is the complete player. Having payed £40 million euros only a few seasons ago Arsenal may have to break the bank to acquire his services. Two more realistic singings Arsenal should also consider would be Loic Remy from QPR (currently on loan at Newcastle). The quick French forward would provide an alternative approach to Oliver Giroud. Giroud has come on leaps and bounds and is continually improving but needs something to aid him in carrying the goals ‘burden’ at Arsenal. Another target Arsenal should consider is Antoine Griezmann from Real Sociedad. He predominately plays on the left wing but is versatile and his technical ability fits with the Arsenal ethos. He has proven himself to be a goal scorer and would also help to lift some of the responsibility off the shoulders of Giroud.
Total: £70million (J Martinez – £35million, Remy – £12million, Griezmann – £23million)
Oli Price-Bates
Arsenal haven’t scored enough goals this season, or looked like scoring enough in the big games. That is why I’d invest the money in big attacking players. Benzema, Pedro and Vela would add a lot to our attack from the left, right and central areas. Schneiderlin would be a key signing in the centre of the park to add some bite and energy, whilst Serge Aurier provides a good replacement for Sagna. Schmeichel is a good replacement for Fabianski, he is young, free and on-form. II’d invest in Caulker. The Cardiff centre back shows a lot of promise, and we need a good young English defender as we start to look towards the future – perhaps even loan him out for a season or two? Cardiff would surely be willing to sell following their relegation. The signings I have suggested would also allow us to play 442 if we ever needed to.
Total: £71million (Benzema – £35million, Schneiderlin – £12.5million, Caulker – £10million, Aurier – £10million, C Vela – £3.5million, Schmeichel – Free)
Josh Challies
(he’d keep £40million in the bank clearly..)
It’s been clear for some time that we’re lacking in the striking department, with Olivier Giroud clearly needed help to score the goals- as he can’t get them all himself. Therefore, the majority of the ‘war chest’ needs to be spent on bringing a class centre-forward to the club. Depending on how the window pans out, we should definitely target either Karim Benzema or Mario Mandzukic. Both offer a superb option up front and are guaranteed to score goals- it’s also likely that one of these options will be available this summer, so we have to throw our hat in the ring with a tempting offer. Wojciech Szczesny will be Arsenal’s number 1 goalkeeper for years to come but with Lukas Fabianski on his way out, we need a back-up. It would make sense to go for an experienced keeper like Victor Valdes, who is available on a free transfer this summer. He’d give Szczesny a battle for a starting spot and will help the young Polish stopper develop in training. Competition is a key-part of Szczesny’s development. Finally, we need another centre-back- as well as a replacement for Bacary Sagna. Micah Richards would fill both these roles and as a boyhood Arsenal fan he would jump at the chance to join the club, where he will also receive first-team football. He may not be a star name but he is capable and an ideal signing.
Jack Gillespie
For me, tiki-taka football is everything, so I’d like to see our war-chest spent on players who would help us take our style of play to the next level. If he made it clear he wanted a transfer – activating the £25 million clause in Cesc Fàbregas’ contract would be my first move. I’m always looking for ways to improve our ball retention, and switching to a dynamic midfield trio of Özil, Fàbregas and Ramsey would allow us to out-pass any team on the planet. Another player I’d like to bring in is a winger who is capable of maintaining possession under pressure and stretching the opposition. Barcelona’s Pedro is the man I’d go for. He understands our tactics, has plenty of experience playing at the highest level, and would cost a lot less than the likes of Julian Draxler and Antoine Griezmann – £25 million is the sum many are quoting as Barcelona’s asking price. I’d spend the final £30 million on a world class striker. Diego Costa would be my number one target, but Chelsea’s interest might make that one a no-go. Edinson Cavani and Karim Benzema would be my alternatives.
Total: £80million (Fabregas – £25million, D Costa – £30million, Pedro – £25million)
Arran Fano
Victor Valdes – free transfer. Experienced and in need of a new challenge, good enough to push Szczesny to the next level and even make the number 1 shirt his own. May not be the same after ACL surgery so a gamble but one worth taking providing he’s fit by preseason. An alternative if Valdes is unlikely to get preseason under his belt is Tim Krul, if available for under £11m I’d snap him up instead. Micah Richards – £8m. Premier league experience, strong pacey and versatile. The downside is his vulnerability to injury, this would potentially allow Jenkinson first team opportunities that he’s lacked. Javi Martinez – £30m. Strong, experienced and good in possession, the quality of player Arsenal need in the DM role, plus offers versatility. Pedro – £25m. Lightening quick, rumours suggest he’s available for transfer this summer and he has goals in his locker. A frightening prospect if he links up with Özil, Ramsey and Walcott. He’s won everything at club and international level for Barca and Spain so a bargain if available. Loic Remy – £12m. Premiership proven, clinical and deserves a chance at a big club who can feed him goals instead of living off scraps. Carlos Vela – £3.5m. Quick, versatile and a more rounded player than he was after he left Arsenal. Added depth will ensure competition for places is fierce and another player with goals in his locker.
Total: £78.5million (Valdes – Free, Pedro – £25million, Remy – £12million, C Vela – £3.5million, J Martinez – £30million, M Richards – £8million)
How would you spend the reported £80million budget if you were in-charge at Arsenal? Tell us by commenting below!
Header photo via Ronnie Macdonald