Arteta is said to like a top talentplaceholder image
Arteta is said to like a top talent | Getty Images
Arsenal are said to be interested in a top talent who would require a premium to be sold any time soon.
Arsenal are reportedly interested in adding another top attacker in the not too distant future. The Gunners have enjoyed a superb first half of the season, finishing the calendar year at the top of the table following a statement win over potential title rivals Aston Villa.
The Gunners are looking stronger than ever, but they will have to hold off a charge from Manchester City between now and the end of the season. And even if Arsenal win the title come May, the battle to continue improving will continue, and Mikel Arteta will be expected to deliver further titles over the coming years.
As part of that, the never-ending recruitment cycle will continue, and Arsenal will already be identifying targets ahead of the summer, with further investment in January unlikely on the back of spending hundreds of millions in the summer. According to one report, Real Madrid star Arda Guler is of interest to the Gunners.
CaughtOffside say Guler could be signed on a deal similar to the one that saw Martin Odegaard make the move, with a loan to buy move perhaps most likely given Arsenal’s spending and the need to manage spending carefully.
Naturally, though, Guler is a key player at Real Madrid, and a deal would be very tricky to pull off. Xabi Alonso is not likely to sanction an exit, and it would either take big money or a swap deal involving a player Real Madrid like.
Alonso said of Guler in October: “With his quality, he’s a mix between Özil and Guti. Guti had that vision and finesse to link play or operate closer to goal, and with Mesut I enjoyed football so much. Arda has that something special — that natural talent you can’t teach.”
That praise speaks to how much Alonso likes Guler, and Arsenal would need to put a lot of eggs in the Guler basket to make a deal happen.
Arsenal financial boost
One potential help could be a transfer windfall that could be heading to the Emirates Stadium. Nuno Tavares is impressing in Italy, with Lazio, and there are reports that the attacking full-back could be on his way to Saudi Arabia.
Football London report that there is significant interest from Saudi Arabia and that Arsenal still have a 35% sell-on clause in Tavares’ Lazio deal. That could mean Arsenal pocket a good few million from the deal if Tavares is to move. Tavares is valued at £13million by Transfermarkt, and any deal is likely to be worth significantly more than that given valuations are usually conservative and Saudi Arabian clubs usually pay a premium.
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