Mexes, Vieira and Toni - all potential targets for Arsene?
With Kolo Toure swapping the Gooners for the Citizens (with the help of some very favourable personal terms), Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger looks like having plenty of cash to spend on new additions to his squad.
Wenger has been quick to say that spending out is not the answer, labelling his squad as “strong enough” for the forthcoming Premier League season, but we all know that’s a load of old tosh, Sorry Arsene.
So the major question is; who will monsieur Wenger spend his grubby oil stained cash on on? We take a closer look at some potential targets and identify the areas in which Arsenal could improve, of course in this delicate financial climate we will account for three key financial sections - the big money move, the safe pair of hands and the cheap option.
The Centre Back
With the big Ivorian Toure Gone there is a gap at the back for Arsenal, but who could fill his boots in the back four…?
Big Money: Phillipe Mexes - At 27 the French international is at the top of his game, a natural choice to pair up with William Gallas having played together for the national side. Roma would want a pretty penny for the centre back and Arsenal would have to break the bank and pay around £20 million to secure the services of the Frenchman.
Safe Pair of Hands: Brede Hangeland - The elegant Norwegian international had a superb first 18 months in the Premier League and was ever present in Roy Hodgson’s side in 2008/09. This has lead to wide spread praise for the defender from all quarters. Hangeland could be an ideal replacement for Toure, and at 6ft5 he offers a real aerial presence. The promise of Champions League football could be too hard to turn down, he should be available for £10 million.
Cheap: Abdel El Kaoutari - At just 19 is one for the future; he recently broke into the Montpellier first team. Currently away on international duty with France at the Under 19 Championships the stocky defender could be a viable option for Wenger, and we know how much he loves a young Frenchman, don’t we?
The Midfield Hard Man
Arsenal certainly have lacked bite in the middle of the park, with many pundits pointing to the lack of a gritty midfielder. So who could Arsene bag in the transfer window to add that much needed steel to their engine room…?
Big Money: Javier Mascherano - It would be one hell of a coup if the Argentine captain were to swap Merseyside for North London, but it can’t be too unrealistic, can it? Maschaerano’s agent has been trying to engineer a move to current European champions Barcelona all summer, but could Wenger like the sly dog that he is persuade the hard working midfielder? He did convince Michel Silvestre jump ship from rivals Manchester United last year, could he do it again? Probably not, but it’s worth a try, right?
Safe Pair of Hands: Patrick Vieira - We all knew he came from Senegal but is there potential he could play again for the Arsenal? Right now it seems that only Wenger knows what is happening. Recently linked with arch-rivals Tottenham, a return to the side he captained in the ‘invincible’ season of 2003/04 would be fairytale. Admittedly Vieira is a shadow of the player he was way back when but he certainly could do a good job in Arsenals young side.
Cheap: Michael Johnson - With Man City buying up Gareth Barry, and with Johnson hardly featuring last season, the youngster could be well worth a punt. He has previously been linked with Aston Villa and Liverpool and at 21 has plenty of seasons ahead of him.
The Striker
With Wenger’s millions he could splash out on a replacement for Emmanuel Adebayor who left for a princely £25 million. With Nicklas Bendtner more eager to drop his pants on demand than score goals, Arsene might opt to run the rule over a striker to lead the line…
Big Money: Luca Toni - The big Italian is falling out of favour in Munich following the 30million arrival of Mario Gomez from Stuttgart. The World Cup winner is the practically the blueprint for the ‘Big man up top’ strong on the ball and in the air, he can certainly score goals also bagging an impressive 38 goals in 56 appearances for Bayern. However he is on the wrong side of thirty, and Arsenal would have to pay big in personal terms to match his £100,000 a week wages.
Safe Pair of Hands: David Trezeguet – The French hit-man could be possibility for Wenger. He has spent nine years at Juventus and perhaps it is time to kiss the Old Lady goodbye. Arsenal fans certainly wouldn’t mind having the Frenchman about the squad and he’s best buddies with Arsenal legend Thierry Henry so perhaps he could be easily persuaded to join the club Henry holds in the highest regard.
Cheap: Nikola Žigić - The Serbian has been touted about to the likes of Bolton & Blackburn Rovers. Valencia are in desperate need to sell in order to stave off their burgeoning debts, and importantly he could come cheap.