Arteta will have to be ruthless this summerplaceholder image
Arteta will have to be ruthless this summer | AFP via Getty Images
Arsenal are said to be eyeing what would be an expensive Premier League deal.
Speculation involving Arsenal and a Premier League star has ramped up after his agent was spotted at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners have an interesting summer ahead, when they will be hoping to prepare for a Premier League title defence.
Arsenal have spent big money in recent seasons, racking up more than £200million in spending in the most recent summer window alone.
The Gunners cannot keep up that kind of spending, and they will likely need to pivot towards signing younger players to get away from such big spending over time.
But there may still be an area Mikel Arteta feels he can improve, and it could be a case of a big sale in the name of a big signing this summer. Arsenal’s squad is full to the brim with quality players, so it is likely a big signing will only be made if a current star is to be replaced, rather than adding talent, which has been the case in recent years.
Reports have suggested that Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali is of interest. Tonali would likely be an expensive deal, but if the Magpies fail to qualify for the Champions League, which is almost a certainty, there may be a deal to be done.
According to Tuttosport, there will be an asking price of around £87million this summer, if Tonali is to be sold. It’s also reported that Tonali’s agent was spotted in the stands during Arsenal’s win over Brighton, which is curious, but there could, of course, be other reasons for that, involving other clients or other potential clients.
Other clubs are also said to be interested, but Arsenal will be the favourites if they can win the league this season. The question then becomes who Tonali would replace, and that certainly isn’t obvious, especially if Arsenal need to recoup a big fee.
Arteta is going to have to be ruthless this summer, and it will be a new challenge for him, given it is not only a case of strengthening weak areas.
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