Craig Burley has told Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal to sell Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey, then use that money to secure the transfer of Moises Caicedo from Brighton ahead of Declan Rice’s arrival.
Arsenal are making big changes in the summer transfer market ahead of another push to win the Premier League title next season.
It’s just a matter of time before Declan Rice enters the building, it has been suggested he will cost a British-record transfer of £105 million from West Ham, with Burley adding that if they can put Moises Caicedo next to him, then there would be a ‘better balance’ to Arsenal’s midfield, as he told ESPN.
For large parts of the previous campaign, Arsenal’s midfield faired well, before the final few months went wrong all over the pitch.
It’s no surprise that Mikel Arteta is bringing in big-money names to make changes to his team, but to possibly overhaul his midfield is a surprise.
Talk of Partey leaving won’t go away, so if he leaves alongside Xhaka, then Burley explained why Caicedo would be the ideal replacement to bring in.
“If they can get rid of Xhaka, I don’t know if the move has happened, but I think he is going to Leverkusen,” said Burley. “If they can sell Thomas Partey as well, who had a pretty good season to the last sort of ten or 12 games. There is talk of Saudi Arabia for him as well.
“But if they could shift those out for a bit more money, then you would be asking for another player and it would be Caicedo from Brighton.
“He is 21. He can defend. Get forward. Very good on the ball. He still has more to come out of him and he has the energy to get around the pitch. I think that would be a better balance between him and Declan Rice, with Odegaard somewhere floating around.”
Arsenal spending big again
One thing Arteta can’t argue about, he is being backed by the powers that be at Arsenal. Hundreds and hundreds of millions have been spent and more could yet come.
All in all, it puts the Spaniard under big pressure next season because if he doesn’t win a trophy, then he will be under a massive spotlight.
Not many can do about the Treble-winning Manchester City, but those domestic trophies are up for grabs and Arsenal have to take their chances now.
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