The Gunners have a prime opportunity to strengthen in the summer and ensure they remain at the top of English football for the foreseeable future
Arsenal’s recruitment over the past three years has been one of most efficient in Europe and they must continue the trend in the summer. Mikel Arteta has successfully spearheaded the Gunners to title challengers in three years courtesy of a mixture of smart acquisitions and favourable man management.
After falling short in the race for a top four finish last season, the club deferred from hitting the panic button and instead invested heavily in positions they needed. A new striker (Gabriel Jesus), left-back (Oleksandr Zinchenko) and creative midfielder (Fabio Vieira) were all purchased – with William Saliba’s return from his loan spell in France bolstering Arteta’s options in central defence.
But if reports in Spain are to be believed, AC Milan’s Brahim Diaz could be the next star snapped-up. According to Nacional, Arteta is ‘obsessed’ with the Spainiard and believes ‘he can have a very leading role at Arsenal’.
Diaz is currently on loan at the Scudetto holders from Real Madrid after spending the last three seasons in Milan. The former Manchester City man could move to Italy permanently should Milan opt to activate the €22m (£18m) fee in the deal – but they are said to be struggling to construct the finances for the deal.
He has since become one of Europe’s most efficient number tens with his performances for Arteta’s side this season and has repaid the £30m price tag paid for him nearly two years ago. The same fee is touted as the amount Arsenal are willing to cough up to lure Diaz to London.
The attacking midfielder is, however, in demand. Chelsea and Newcastle are reportedly monitoring his situation. Alongside Milan’s potential shortage of cash and interest from elsewhere, Edu could do worse than gambling on around £20m for an attacking playmaker already worthy of Champions League football.