Arsenal Transfer Dossier: Fellaini and Rooney Can Answer Wenger's £70m Dilemma
After summers and winters of discontent, Arsenal appear ready to release Arsene Wenger's shackles in the transfer window, in order to take advantage of the deluge of managerial changes occuring at the Premier League's summit.
Ivan Gazidis has somewhat let the cat out of the bag claimed The Gunners can afford wages in excess of £200,000-a-week, while reports suggest Wenger will be handed anything from £70m-£100m this summer. Questions do however remain over his willingness to use it.
Business so far
As many as 17 players have already departed The Emirates Stadium from the club's first team and academy, with Russian reject Andrey Arshavin the highest profile loss. The end of Arshavin, Denilson and Sebastian Squilaci's contracts should free up as much as £10m on the Arsenal wage bill. Johan Djourou, Marouane Chamakh and Nicklas Bendtner, who were all sent out on loan last season, could follow. Yaya Sanogo will become the first signing of the summer after the Frenchman chose the north Londoners over moving to Lille.
What they need
With Wojciech Szczesny, Lukasz Fabianski and Vito Mannone having all played in the Premier League this season, Wenger might look to the market to add continuity between the sticks. Such was the ruthless way which captain Thomas Vermaelen fell out of favour last season suggests Arsenal could do with additional centre-back options. The floundering Kieran Gibbs and Andre Santos seldom provide stability at left-back either. Abou Diaby's constant fitness concerns point towards the recruitment of a holding midfielder and while Lukas Podolski, Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud all his double figures in terms of goals, a world class striker is required to claim a first league title in a decade.
Who could join
Most recent reports suggest Arsenal have activated the release clause of Marouane Fellaini from Everton, while rumours regarding a move for Manchester United's unsettled Wayne Rooney persist. Stevan Jovetic is perhaps the most linked player with Arsenal this summer, but Fiorentina remain adamant the Montenegrin's release clause will be met. Rumours regarding the likes of Victor Wanyama, Gonzalo Higuain, Julio Cesar and Cesc Fabregas range from the feasible to the ridiculous.
Who could leave
Bacary Sagna's contract expires in the summer of 2014 and the France international is open to both staying at Arsenal and leaving the club. The aforementioned Santos has performed the role of novelty act at full-back during his most recent Arsenal performances. Podolski has been linked with a return to Germany with Borussia Dortmund after the physical exerts of last season. Gervinho has of late been mentioned as a possible target for Galatasaray.
What the manager has said
"We want additions but we want to keep the structure and spirit and quality of the team," Wenger said. But let's not forget there are many clubs with big money and maybe not enough talent to strengthen all the teams. But we will go out in a proactive way."
If Gazidis is to be believed, then Arsenal will be among the biggest spenders in Europe this season. The problem remains that supporters have heard it all before.
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