Warren Barton has told Arsenal to go and sign both of England’s World Cup duo, Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice, ahead of the January transfer window opening.
The former Newcastle United player joked that the Saudi-owned Magpies ‘can afford it’ given the money they can put on the table for whatever player they wish.
Whilst England were booted out of the quarter-final stages of the Qatar World Cup to France, someone like Bellingham probably came out of it with his reputation enhanced given his performances.
Whilst West Ham United’s Rice played a more selfish and deeper role for Gareth Southgate’s side, there have now been suggestions that he will leave in the summer in search of Champions League football.
As things stand, Arsenal are heading back to competing with the elite, and if Rice were to leave the London Stadium in the summer, then someone like Mikel Arteta’s side can put their name forward, but Barton told the Gunners one simple thing, as he told the Highbury Squad.
“If you want to be the next big club, then you would go and get both (Bellingham and Rice) of them, wouldn’t you?!” said Barton. “Show me the money. Go and get both.
“Newcastle can afford it, then we are going for the lot of it,” laughed Barton. “Don’t worry about that. We have money coming out of our ears. We don’t know where to spend it.”
ARSENAL NEED CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FOOTBALL
Come the summer transfer window, if Arsenal are back in the Champions League, regardless of if they win a trophy, then life will be a lot easier for them wanting to sign the top talents.
But during the short-term, they probably need to refresh and bulk up their squad, more so in the forward area because of Gabriel Jesus’ injury.
Although the Brazil star’s potential absence should be a warning to Arteta that he probably needs to bring in another midfielder, one of a defensive mind, or else if Thomas Partey gets injured, then they are in trouble.
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