Arsenal's transfer crunch: Three would-be free agents the Gunners can sign amid their limited summer budget

Arsenal's first season without Arsene Wenger did not have the effect most fans had anticipated. The Frenchman departed the Emirates after longstanding discontentment among the Gunners faithful who believed it was time for a change within the club.

Under new boss Unai Emery, the club was expected to secure Champions League football at the very least. However, the Gunners found themselves outside the top four in the Premier League despite having encountered several opportunities to get the better of their rivals in the race for the top four spots.

The club lost to the likes of Brighton and Crystal Palace at a time when their arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur were spectacularly losing points. Consequently, they ended their season at fifth place, a point behind Mauricio Pochettino's men.

The North London outfit had another chance to make their way back into Europe's elite competition in the form of the Europa League. The Gunners went head-to-head against Chelsea in the finals at Baku but once again stuttered their way out of the game, making way for the Blues to comfortably secure the European Cup.

With Champions League football out of their reach, Emery is now left with a meager £45 million to strengthen key areas of the squad this summer. The departure of Aaron Ramsey also makes the search for his replacement a top priority.

However, the limited transfer budget means the former Sevilla boss may be forced to look to the free-agent market in the hopes of finding some reinforcements.

In this article, we take a look at three would-be free agents who Arsenal could sign this summer.

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#3 Dani Alves

Peru v Brazil: Group A - Copa America Brazil 2019

Dani Alves recently announced his decision to depart Paris Saint-Germain after a two-year-stint at the club. The Brazil international's contract is set to expire next month, sending a number of big clubs on alert.

At 36, the right-back is not the most enduring prospect but with the injury of Hector Bellerin and the lack of choices in the position, the veteran defender is far from being the worst signing for the club.

The former Barcelona star could provide the Gunners back-line with a commanding presence and much-needed experience for others to learn from.

#2 Alberto Moreno

Liverpool v FK Crvena Zvezda - UEFA Champions League Group C

Alberto Moreno has been on Arsenal's radar for quite a while and after Liverpool made their intentions of letting him go clear, this could be the prime time for the Gunners to strike.

The 26-year-old has found it difficult to find a place in Jurgen Klopp's Champions League winning team, having made only two appearances in the Premier League and five in all competitions during the recently-concluded campaign. The presence of an in-form Andy Robertson has further diminished his chances at more playing time in Anfield.

The Spain international will have the chance to prove himself to be a better player than Sead Kolasinac, who has not displayed the most convincing of performances in the previous season. Arsenal will also be wary of Nacho Monreal's future at the club as well, despite contract extensions.

Emery has managed Moreno during his stint at Sevilla and would likely find no difficulty in persuading him to reunite at the Emirates.

#1 Adrien Rabiot

Red Star Belgrade v Paris Saint-Germain - UEFA Champions League Group C

Adrien Rabiot's future at Paris Saint-Germain has been uncertain ever since he refused to sign a new contract with the Ligue 1 giants.

The situation turned ugly when the midfielder was completely left out of the squad, with his last appearance being during PSG's Champions League win over Red Star Belgrade in December 2018.

The Frenchman's contract will expire next month, which means he will soon be available on a free transfer. The midfielder could prove to be a suitable replacement for Aaron Ramsey, especially after Barcelona loanee Denis Suarez failed to impress in the middle of the park.

Like Moreno, Rabiot had previously worked with Emery during the manager's two-year stint at the Parc des Princes and has even publicly declared his love for him, a fact that could make it easier for the Spaniard to bring the midfielder to North London.