The transfer window slams shut on Monday night and many Arsenal fans still believe three new players are needed to help the Gunners challenge for the title this season.
A new centre back, defensive midfielder and striker are the three positions that need strengthening but Arsene Wenger looks like he may stick to internal solutions. It looks unlikely that we’ll see the drama of last year when the name Mesut Ozil came out of nowhere and he joined Arsenal a few hours before the deadline. However the boss did give some encouraging words on Friday:
Wenger said: “I will be actively involved but on the last day of the window. I will of course be on alert until the last minute of the transfer deadline. You (the media) have decided that I have to buy strikers – I have not necessarily decided that!
“Once again all the negotiations have to be as secret as possible and if we sign somebody, even if we sign Falcao, you will be informed.
”If I give you the number of strikers I have at the moment it’s absolutely unbelievable. We have Sanogo, Sanchez, we have Walcott, we have Podolski, we have Giroud who will come back during the season and I forget maybe one or two. Campbell can play centre forward as well and of course we can be successful.
Wenger has hinted at signing a new forward before the deadline, but could not guarantee Campbell and Podolski would be at Arsenal for the season.
Arsenal have already spent more than any other transfer window by signing Alexis Sanchez, Calum Chambers, David Opsina and Mathieu Debuchy. But with a lot of injuries and departures, it’s clear the Gunners need a few more to help strengthen their squad, especially after they were handed a tough Champions League group which includes Borussia Dortmund and Galatasary. Wenger went on to say he won’t panic buy, but will buy if the player improves the squad:
“The success of a season doesn’t depend on one player that you buy or not. I think you do it when you think it strengthens your squad. We have shown in the last two seasons, when we think money has to be spent we do it. But we want to do it in the right way.
“It’s harder to buy top top top players. Many clubs are on the market and everybody knows each other. The last few days are poker games. There’s a lot of lies there in the few days, everybody is interested in the same player even if you’re the only one who wants the player.”
That final comment is really interesting. Wenger is hinting that if a Arsenal transfer target is revealed, rival clubs may pretend to be interested, just to rise the price of the wanted player. This explains why Wenger is so secretive about his transfer dealings and also why he will not admit to needing a player in a specific position. There is no point paying over the odds for a player because you said something in a press conference. He’s a clever man, let’s see how it pans out.