As Arsenal’s latest season at the Emirates faded out with a sluggish defeat to a rejuvenated Aston Villa, many of the fans and players were already thinking ahead to next season. But whilst Walcott and co. worry about their next holiday destination and Wilshere ponders over his selection for the under 21s; the Arsenal fans all have one thing on their mind: transfer targets.
Cahill, Benzema, Hazard, Buffon are the most recognisable names being mentioned, but with Arsene Wenger’s transfer history (José Antonio Reyes is currently our record signing at just over £22million), do you really see the Frenchman spending big money on these players? The short answer is no, although with the money available to him he probably should. Instead, Arsenal fans would be better off trying to adopt Wenger’s mind-set and seeing just who could be coming our way next season.
The Cahill alternate
Cahill is arguably the most sought after English player at this moment of time. He has all of the characteristics to become a world class centre back. This however has not gone unnoticed and teams such as Manchester City and Liverpool are also avid admirers. So in the likelihood that Wenger cannot compete with these teams financially, who should Wenger turn to? The answer is the £10million rated Congolese behemoth, Chris Samba. At roughly £10million cheaper than Cahill, Samba may not be as easy on the eye, but certainly matches the Englishman for determination strength and commitment; all of which are attributes that Arsenal have sorely missed.
The Buffon alternate
A world class goalkeeper no doubt. But he is also one with a dodgy back, astronomical wages and a massive transfer fee. So instead of spending £30million on a liability Wenger will probably adopt a more sensible approach. Brad Friedel is set to become a free agent in the summer, and is arguably just as good as last year’s target, Mark Schwarzer. The veteran keeper could be the perfect role model for promising stars such as Szczęsny and Fabiański. However, another worthwhile approach would be that of Monaco keeper, Stéphane Ruffier. The 24 year old has been in sparkling form for Les Rouge et Blanc and has recently earned his first cap for the French national team. The French connection is one that suits Wenger and a deal of £12million could be enough to entice the him to England.
The Hazard alternate
Eden Hazard has been on lips of every “big club” in Europe over the past two years. The dynamic Belgian international is currently on route to helping his team [Lille] secure the French Championship, so he is obviously a winner. A rumoured fee of £20million is actually a real value-for-money deal that Wenger strives for. However, with the financial muscle of the likes of Madrid, Barcelona and the two Manchester clubs, Wenger may look closer to home for a winger.
Charles N’Zogbia is on the verge of singlehandedly saving Wigan from relegation. His two goals against West Ham (one a stunning freekick, the other a 94th minute winner) proved that not only does the Frenchman have excellent technique but also a stunning appetite for success. Many still doubt if he is ready for a significant step up, but many also asked the same question about N’Zogbia’s former teammate, Antonio Valencia, who has recently celebrated winning the league as well as relishing a Champions League final. If Wigan were to go down, his price tag (currently around £9million) would also drop.
The Benzema alternate
The French striker has had a bit of a torrid time at Madrid, despite his relatively steady goal scoring record. The quoted price tag is currently around £25million, a price I can hardly see Wenger aiming for. But with an apparent need for a goal scorer to compliment Van Persie, where can Wenger turn to? This player has scored 7 times in 8 international appearances, as well as smashing home 24 goals this term for his club. Looking elsewhere, the relatively inexperienced Papiss Demba Cissé has the goal scoring instincts that Arsenal need in front of goal. At Freiburg, Cissé is the focal point of the attack with much of the play coming through him, and him alone, so his goal scoring record for a fairly mediocre team is impressive. But put him in front of goal at the Emirates with players like Nasri, Wilshere and Fabregas waiting to tee him up, and the potential is breath-taking. A transfer fee of around £13million may be required to secure the Senegalese goal machine.
Matt Mace
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