Arsenal face competition from Man City for Southampton star as Gunners plan summer rebuild

Arsenal: Arteta's defiant message to critics after tough season

When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they’ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Arsenal are reportedly planning on raiding Southampton in a bid to strengthen their squad in the summer. The Gunners are set to undertake a major rebuild at the end of the season following a poor season under Mikel Arteta.

Arsenal will be busy in the summer transfer window, which opens on June 9, with plenty of incomings and outgoings likely in north London.

According to reports, first team players Bernd Leno and Hector Bellerin and loanees Lucas Torreira, Matteo Guendouzi, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Sead Kolasinac will all be made available for transfer this summer.

Sporting director Edu is intent on raising around £60million to spend in the transfer market, with the futures of Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah also in doubt.

Arsenal will certainly need to trim their squad and reinvest if they are to convince new players to join, with a first season without European football for 25 years on the horizon in 2021/22.

Arteta’s side play Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Brighton before the end of the season, but even if they win all three fixtures, their maximum possible points total of 61 is likely to see them fall short of earning a Europa League place.

JUST IN: Leicester eye Matheus Pereira transfer with Leeds and West Ham in race

Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma, Rennes wonderkid Eduardo Camavinga, Lyon striker Moussa Dembele and Celtic forward Odsonne Edouard are just some of the names currently on the Gunners’ wish list.

According to Goal, Arsenal are also interested in Southampton defender Ryan Bertrand, who is also on the radars of Manchester City, AC Milan and Monaco this summer.

Bertrand is out of contract with Saints next month and, although he has an offer on the table from the club, he reportedly wants to increase his £70,000-a-week wages.

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has made it clear the club won’t increase their offer, meaning the 31-year-old, who is currently injured, looks set to leave the south coast.

“We are looking at other targets because the offer we have made has not been accepted from his side,” Hasenhuttl said when asked about the situation last week.

“When this happens, when there is no solution for the future in this position, we will have to look at other options.”

DON’T MISS

Man Utd told to make one signing to beat Man City after Cavani feat

Man City stance on striking Aston Villa deal for Fernandinho successor

Mourinho plans to make Man Utd misfit one of his first Roma signings

While Arsenal already have Kieran Tierney, Bukayo Saka and former Southampton player Cedric Soares capable of playing there, left-back has become a problem position recently.

Granit Xhaka has moved there from midfield in recent weeks and with the Gunners hoping to sell Kolasinac after a spell on loan at Schalke, they want to sign reinforcements.

Arteta has made it clear that the club will be busy in the off-season, after the final game of the season on May 23.

“We have already had an incredible amount of changes at the club over the past year or so, more than ever,” he said in Tuesday’s press conference.

“We are looking to improve and be much closer than where we are at the moment. In order to do that there are certain things that we have to improve.

“There are so many things to do because we already have a lot of players on loan and a lot of players with contracts still that we need to sort.

“It will depend on what happens with a lot of those players and what we are able to recruit to improve the team. That is going to determine where we are.”

Source: Read Full Article