Arsenal continue to impress in the transfer window after completing the signing of Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City in a deal worth £45m. The 25-year-old Brazilian joins fellow summer arrivals Fabio Vieira, Matt Turner and Marquinhos, with plenty of business yet to do.
It’s said that manager Mikel Arteta wants to bolster defence, while attack and midfield remain areas of interest.
The club’s pursuit of Leeds United winger Raphinha has been widely reported, highlighting that further frontline additions are being looked at.
Central midfield presents a slightly different situation with there already being four senior players in that position.
It’s believed that Leicester City’s Youri Tielemans is still an option and a potential deal could be revisited later down the line.
What’s next for Arsenal in terms of incomings? Of course, it’s impossible to know for definite because things can change very quickly, but judging by what’s doing the rounds at the moment, it appears Ajax defender Lisandro Martinez is very much an active target for technical director Edu.
The Athletic claims that Arsenal will hold more talks with Ajax this week as they finally look to reach an agreement to sign the Argentinian, but Premier League rivals Manchester United could stand in the way.
Erik ten Hag worked with the player while manager of the current Eredivisie champions and is reportedly pushing for his signature.
Looking at the Arsenal squad overall, it’s clear to see why Martinez is at the top of the to-do list.
His versatility enables him to play as a centre-back, left-back and even as a defensive midfielder, providing Arteta with improved strength in depth.
Both Kieran Tierney and Thomas Partey have struggled for consistency due to injury, while Pablo Mari’s expected departure will open up space for added competition on the left-hand side of central defence.
With new faces already arriving in goal, midfield and attack, there’s no surprise that the backline is now the focus of attention for Arteta and Edu.
The return to Europe in addition to five substitutions being permitted will have no doubt reiterated the need to balance and improve options in all four sections of the team.
Saying that, Arsenal have shown a determination to wrap things up swiftly if the opportunity presents itself.
Considering his position and the options we already had, I’d be surprised if Fabio Vieira was the number one priority this summer, but apparent interest from the likes of Tottenham and Liverpool meant time was not wasted in securing his services.
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