Arsenal endured a frustrating summer transfer window after failing to land any of their marquee attacking targets but there is some good news for Mikel Arteta
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta
Mikel Arteta and Arsenal are out to win the Premier League title again(Image: (Visionhaus/Getty Images))
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Arsenal entered the summer transfer window with grand ambitions after once again establishing themselves as the champions of England.
The main goal for Mikel Arteta and Co, after ending a 22-year wait for another Premier League title, was to level up the squad that also came within a whisker of winning the Champions League for the first time in the club's history. Particularly in attack, where it was accepted that upgrades were needed if they were to meet Arteta's demands in creating 'a dynasty'.
Unfortunately, Arsenal were unable to acquire the elite attacker they craved despite their dogged pursuit of genuine game-changer targets in the form of Morgan Rogers and Vinicius Junior.
The Gunners can at least take solace from the fact that their squad remains seriously strong and, on paper, perfectly capable of retaining their domestic crown. And although this transfer window may not have gone totally to plan, they could even hold an advantage over their title rivals when it comes to future windows.
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With Gabriel Martinelli now on the cusp of finalising his £60million transfer to Al-Hilal, Arsenal will have no players out of contract next summer. That means they are free to plan ahead without the distraction of trying to tie down key figures to longer terms while allocating their available resources into planned new additions.
Arsenal's situation is likely to be the envy of both Liverpool and Manchester United, who find themselves with plenty of big contract decisions to make over the next few months.
Virgil van Dijk.
Virgil van Dijk is among a handful of senior Liverpool players who could be free agents next summer(Image: Michael Driver/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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Liverpool have five first-team players whose deals are up next summer, including that of club captain, Virgil van Dijk. The Dutchman is joined by Alisson, Joe Gomez, Konstantinos Tsimkas and Wataru Endo, while the Reds will also have to decide whether or not to trigger the option to buy Ronald Araujo following his loan move from Barcelona.
Some decisions may be more clear-cut than others but with key figures such as Van Dijk and Alisson now in the twilight years of their career, there is definitely plenty for the Anfield hierarchy to ponder.
At Old Trafford, there are also some big-hitters who could potentially leave for nothing in 12 months time. The standout name is Bruno Fernandes, thought it has been suggested that United have already reopened contract negotiations with their captain.
Bruno Fernandes
Manchester United will need to tie their captain and talisman Bruno Fernandes down to a longer deal
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Seven other players are due to be free agents next summer including first team regulars Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Lisandro Martinez. Again, it feels like there is plenty for United to consider given the ages of their important defenders.
Harry Amass, Jack Fletcher and Tyler Fletcher are also now inside the final year of their contracts, as is United's veteran goalkeeper, Tom Heaton.
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