Arsenal are said to be interested in snapping up a Serie A midfielder this summer as they prepare to mount a Premier League title defence. Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta have their work cut out this summer, given the precision that will be required to improve this Gunners side.
While some signings might be forced by fringe players who are offered starting roles elsewhere, it's not immediately clear which positions need strengthening, given Arsenal have an incredibly strong squad with depth aplenty.
The striker and left wing roles are likely to be addressed, and a midfielder could also be added in anticipation of an exit there ahead of next season.
Serie A midfielder comes into focus
Manu Kone Roma
It has been a quiet summer so far for Arsenal, who don't need to be rushing into the market, given they are Premier League champions and came within a whisker of the Champions League title. Fine-tuning is a precision art, and not one achieved with a scattered approach, and so it should come as no surprise that there have been few credible transfer links this summer.
There is some chatter, though, and reports in Italy suggest AS Roma star Manu Koné could be of interest to the Gunners when it comes to midfield options. According to Corriere della Sera, Arsenal have made early moves for the French midfielder, but no bid has yet been made.
What to expect from Koné
manu kone
Koné, described as one of the "most exciting midfielders in Serie A", is very much an out-and-out midfielder, operating as a box-to-box midfielder for the most part, though he can play in a deeper role if needed. It is the latter ability that might make him attractive to Arsenal, who are likely considering replacing Christian Norgaard.
Kone is the type of player who can carry the ball and drive a team up the pitch, which is something Arteta may well be looking for, given his side struggled in transition towards the back-end of the season.
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The midfielder is under a long-term deal in the Italian capital, though, and Arsenal will likely have to pay at least £43million to land his signature, and that could increase if he impresses at the World Cup. Fortunately for the Gunners, they will have the capacity to spend significant money this summer, providing they shift a couple of fringe players.
Arsenal have become a profit machine during this successful period, and their new-found revenues are allowing them to continue pushing on with large spending bills, unlike many of their rivals who find themselves hamstrung by FFP rules.
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