Arsenal have already made one signing this summer, attaining the services of Sead Kolasinac on a free transfer. However, the Gunners fans will be hopeful of some big money signings if the team is to challenge for the Premier League title in the 2017/18 season.
Moreover, with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger signing a new contract, the fans will be looking to see some intent in the transfer market from the Frenchman if he has been chosen to take the team forward for the next two years.
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Here we rank the six Arsenal transfer targets from worst to best:
#6 Aleksandr Golovin – CSKA Moscow
A very recent transfer rumour would suggest that Aleksandr Golovin is very close to a move to the Emirates. Russia’s Football Magazine has reported that he will sign for Arsenal this season, but will remain at CSKA on loan for at least another season.
The jury is yet to be out on the 21-year-old with very few people having seen him play in Russia. At 21 years old, he certainly has years ahead of him to develop, but Arsenal fans may suggest that 10 million pounds, the reported transfer fee, could be spent better elsewhere.
As well as that, it has been said by Arsenal’s scout in Russia that he is not yet ready to play at a club like Arsenal and that the Gunners’ move for him was ‘surprising’. Therefore, Golovin comes last on the list of Arsenal’s transfer targets, even though the midfielder might yet prove to be a steal for the North London side.
#5 Henry Onyekuru – AS Eupen
Arsenal were, for a while, strongly linked with Henry Onyekuru, AS Eupen’s striker, who contributed to 33 goals last season in all competitions, with 24 goals and nine assists. Once again, this is not the type of signing Arsenal fans were looking for, especially considering the other clubs interested include West Ham United and Newcastle United.
The 20-year old Nigerian has undeniable talent, and with his record last season, he clearly has an eye for goal. However, the Belgian league is of a much lower standard than the Premier League, which would make it hard to suggest that he would be playing for Arsenal next season if he was to sign for the Gunners.
But, with Wenger having shown his ability to develop young players, Onyekuru would be a good signing for the future at Arsenal, but in terms of transfer targets to improve currently, Onyekuru is fifth out of the six transfer targets for the Gunners.
#4 Jean Seri – Nice
Jean Seri, an Ivorian central midfielder, seems to be in the middle of a tug of war between North London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham. The Ivorian scored nine goals and provided six assists for his team-mates in a very successful season for Nice in France as they finished in a surprising third last season.
The midfielder does, however, play for national side Ivory Coast, which would mean Arsenal would lose him to the African Cup of Nations every two years, something Liverpool struggled with last season, having lost Sadio Mane to Senegal. Furthermore, many would claim centre midfield is not a position Arsenal need to strengthen, if they aren’t going to sell any current midfielders.
But, Seri looks a very good talent with a range of long and short passing, as well as the ability to shoot well from range. Additionally, it seems Wenger is an admirer of the midfielder and he rarely turns down the opportunity to sign a centre midfielder if he likes the player.
#3 Riyad Mahrez – Leicester City
After Riyad Mahrez’s breakthrough season at Leicester when his side won the Premier League, it seemed like Arsenal were ready to sign the Algerian, and the Gunners fans were licking their lips at the thought of signing the winger. However, it wasn’t to be.
A season has passed and Arsenal are again interested, but this time the fans are less than thrilled as Mahrez had a below par campaign.
Speaking to Bein Sports, Wenger made it clear he likes Mahrez, but no bid has been made, yet. This may suggest Arsenal may be firmly in the race for the 26-year old once again this year and could this time sign the Algerian with Wenger alluding to the fact that a bid may be coming.
He comes third on the list simply because the two above him are in a position Arsenal have been looking to strengthen for years; centre-forward.
#2 Alexandre Lacazette – Olympique Lyonnais
The player who comes in second on the list is French and Lyon forward Alexandre Lacazette. Arsenal have seemingly been admirers of Lacazette from quite some time and this may well be the season they secure his services.
The 26-year old forward has an extremely good goal-scoring record with over 20 goals in the last three seasons and would certainly be a great addition to Arsenal’s front line.
To make things easier for Arsenal, it seems that Lacazette is going to leave the French club this summer and the club who was most likely to sign him, Atletico Madrid, have a transfer ban. This leaves the door wide open for Arsenal to sign the Frenchman if he is looking for a club this summer.
Lacazette comes in second for Arsenal’s transfer targets this season, but in most other years the Frenchman would be in first place because he would be a strong addition to most sides in Europe, especially Arsenal.
#1 Kylian Mbappe – AS Monaco
Kylian Mbappe is the name and the player all Arsenal fans want above anybody else this transfer window. Arsenal have already made at least one bid, of around €100 million, but this was not enough for Monaco. If Arsenal are to sign Mbappe, it will undoubtedly be one of Wenger’s greatest ever coups, and certainly his most expensive signing.
The Frenchman has had a magnificent season, scoring 15 league goals and six goals in nine games in the Champions League and has caught the eye of football fans around the world, as well as all the top clubs.
Surprisingly, Arsenal have appeared as a team who want the Frenchman, an unexpected but welcomed move by all Arsenal fans, who would be delighted to see the Frenchman lead the line at the Emirates next season.
