Arsene Wenger has intimated there will be more signings at Arsenal before the transfer window closes. Who will they be?
Santi Cazorla, Lukas Podolski, and Olivier Giroud are pretty impressive signings by anybody’s standards. OK so they have not combined to create a goal in their opening games, but Gunners fans should not panic this early on just two games in.
Cazorla has actually come out and backed Wenger to spend the money they received for Alex Song and Robin van Persie, and the manager has confirmed there are likely to be new additions. Here are five the Gunners have been linked with adding to their squad.
Montpellier captain Yanga-Mbiwa would be a perfect addition for the Gunners. He is young, talented, and can play in any position across the back four. At 23 he already has a Ligue One winners medal in his collection, and is a former teammate of Olivier Giroud. He recently won an international cap for France, and it is expected to be the first of many. He could cost as little as £7 million, and is said to be keen on a switch to the Gunners, but Chelsea, Napoli and AC Milan are both keen.
Arsenal have been tracking Yann M’Vila all summer, and now with Alex Song sold to Barcelona, the Frenchman looks like being the perfect replacement. He is an out and out defensive midfielder, far more disciplined than Song, and could be the perfect foil to showcase and complement the attacking talent of Santi Cazorla. He would cost a lot, with £18 million one price tag mentioned, and interest from rivals Tottenham Hotspur is likely to complicate any deal.
Afellay is another player who Arsenal have been linked with several times over the past two to three months, but there could now be life in the deal after it was confirmed yesterday that Barcelona have agreed to let him go out on loan. The Dutchman is also interesting Liverpool and Spurs. With reports emerging that Arsenal could sell Theo Walcott, Afellay would present a stop-gap replacement at the very least.
Arsenal have already signed one talented Spaniard from Malaga in Cazorla, and they could be looking to bag another if reports are to be believed. That man is Isco, a Spain under-21 international who can play in an attacking role on the left and in the centre. Malaga are said to have turned down an £8 million bid from Spurs over the weekend, but it is thought that they are holding out for £10 million.
Swansea’s Spanish defender Rangel scored for the club against West Ham at the weekend, and 48 hours later saw himself linked with a switch to the Emirates. The Mirror claimed that he is being lined up as an alternative by Wenger if they miss out on Yanga-Mbiwa. The 29-year-old right-back could well be a cut-price alternative to bolster their defence, but Swansea are likely to be reluctant to sell yet another first team player, and will do their best to resist any offer.
Who would you like to see arrive at the Emirates before the transfer deadline closes?
image: © wonker
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