Monchi appears set to reunite with Unai Emery at Arsenal after leaving Roma this week.
The Gunners are looking to appoint a technical director and Monchi fits the bill having already worked successfully alongside Emery in Sevilla.
The Italian media are already speculating what players Monchi will try and sign for the club, should he join and apparently he already has a five man shortlist.
With the clubs need for defensive reinforcements, Daniele Rugani is the central defender to be linked. Monchi tried to bring Rugani to Roma last summer and after another season of struggling for game time, the Italian central defender could be tempted if Arsenal made a move, convincing Juventus to sell, though, could be difficult.
Elsewhere in defence Ajax full back Nicolas Tagliafico is tipped as a reinforcement. The Argentinean international has been brilliant for Ajax this season and has been a major factor in why they’ve done so well in the Champions League, scoring 3 goals in 7 games. Nacho Monreal is now 33 and Sead Kolasinac has struggled defensively this season, so the Gunners may well be on the lookout for a left-back and Tagliafico fits the bill, he’s 26, on great form and could be available for a cut price of just £8million. They may well face competition from both Madrid clubs for his signature though, so Monchi will need to work his magic.
All of Monchi’s other targets are reportedly midfielders. We already know Emery is a huge fan of experience Argentinean midfielder Ever Banega and it seems Monchi is too. A more defensive midfielder, Adrien Rabiot, also seems to interest Monchi. The Frenchman will be available on a free transfer this summer, so the Gunners will have to beat off competition to sign him and offer a big wage packet, the UK media is suggesting.
But the clubs big summer signing may be at Monchi’s old stomping ground to poach Nicolo Zaniolo. Monchi helped sign Zaniolo for less than £1million and he has gone on to become a sensation at the Italian club, catching the eyes of top European clubs. With Juventus also interested, the Gunners may have to pay around £50million to sign the 19-year-old attacking midfielder.