Rogers? Kroupi? Alvarez? Gunners weigh up incomings and sales
- Published
Mikel Arteta has been central to the club's planning for next season, with the Gunners targeting a central midfielder, forward and full-back in the transfer market.
But it will not be straightforward.
Given last season's £250m spend on new players, a number of player renewals and lucrative bonuses paid to players in lieu of their Premier League success, the club are mindful of ensuring finances are balanced during the close season.
For the forward position, three players are known to be on the shortlist - Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers, Bournemouth's Eli Junior Kroupi and Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez.
Rogers and Kroupi are expected to cost in excess of £80m each, while Barcelona target Alvarez is being valued at more than £120m.
Any move for Rogers, Kroupi or Alvarez could be facilitated by exits in forward areas, with the club open to offers for Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli, while Leandro Trossard's deal expires in 12 months.
The future of academy graduate Ethan Nwaneri, who has returned from a loan spell at Marseille, is also unclear. Arsenal are giving serious consideration to a homegrown sale this summer, which would represent pure profit on the balance sheet.
The Gunners are also set to listen to offers for Christian Norgaard and Ben White, while Fabio Vieira and Reiss Nelson can also leave. Jakub Kiwior has already been sold to Porto for £14.7m.
A move for Rogers has been discussed, but with Martin Odegaard and Eberechi Eze, who can play in the central attacking areas, already in the squad there have been questions raised over whether a move for the England international is a priority.
Though, with Rogers able to operate from the left, it has been noted that his versatility would be an asset.
The interest in the 23-year-old is genuine, though the Gunners are not the only club in the running for Rogers with Manchester United also monitoring the forward's situation.
Rogers, according to multiple sources, is open to joining Arsenal ahead of next season.
Kroupi is another opportunity Arsenal have explored after the 19-year-old scored 13 times in the Premier League, a record for a teenage debutant.
The club's dream forward signing is Alvarez - though Barcelona have a serious interest in the Argentina attacker.
