Arsenal’s transfer targets
LONDON. - Ivan Gazidis has confirmed Arsenal are in discussions over a number of transfers.
The Arsenal chief executive has opened up on a number of topics during a fan Q&A at The Emirates.
He insists Arsene Wenger will be targeting quality not quantity this summer. Sead Kolasinac has already arrived and Gazidis puts him firmly in the quality bracket. And Arsenal supporters can expect more to come. Gazidis has said the club are not looking for squad depth but to strengthen the first team during the summer transfer window.
The Gunners have made a series of sizeable bids in recent weeks, twice offering to break the transfer record for first Monaco striker Kylian Mbappe (£87million) and Alexandre Lacazette (£44m).
Thomas Lemar is also among Arsenal’s top targets and negotiations remain ongoing between the club and Monaco to secure the French international, though the French champions are loath to lose either him or Mbappe.
Speaking at the end of the season Arsene Wenger emphasised his desire for quality over quantity in a summer where Arsenal have over £100m to spend in addition to whatever they can recoup through sales.
Those comments were echoed by Gazidis at a fan Q&A event at the Emirates, where he emphasised that Arsenal were only after the best, specifically players that could fit into Wenger’s starting XI.
“We signed one of the players in the Bundesliga team of the season (Sead Kolasinac),” Gazidis said. “We’re looking for top quality additions.”
He further added that Arsenal were in discussions over a variety of transfers. Gazidis also confirmed that Arsenal intended to add to their backroom staff in the weeks ahead having already recruited fitness guru Darren Burgess and former Team Sky legal expert Huss Fahmy.
Gazidis has also “begged” the club’s supporters to unite after manager Wenger was given a new two-year deal.
Speaking at a fan event on Thursday, Gazidis attempted to soothe any concerns among the support after the Gunners finished fifth in the Premier League last season, ensuring those in attendance big names are on the way.
He said: “We’re looking for top-quality players. We’ve got three times as many scouts as we had four years ago. I believe that to be a world-class football club you’ve got to be world class off the pitch.” - The Daily Star.