Arsenal is gearing up for another busy summer. Although missing out on Champions League football may have an impact on spending, Edu and Mikel Arteta will seek to enhance certain areas.
Arsenal are on the market for a striker following the departure of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the last transfer window. Eddie Nketiah is set to sign a new contract with Arsenal this summer, bolstering the club’s strike force!
Alexandre Lacazette’s contract expires in the summer, and he will not be returning to the club. Expect one or two new players to enter the fray. Folarin Balogun has been on loan at Middlesbrough; expect him to return to compete for a starting spot.
But apart from all that, Arsenal and Manchester United are reportedly battling it out for Napoli midfielder, Fabian Ruiz!
As previously stated, the Gunners had a disastrous end to their 2021/22 season, losing key back-to-back matches against Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United, earning the Lillywhites a place in the UEFA Champions League for next season.
However, Mikel Arteta’s young squad had many benefits, and the Spaniard has confessed that he wants to add some seasoned talent to the Gunners’ ranks.
“We want to make the squad stronger, we want to make the starting XI stronger, we want to make the specificity and the personality of our players stronger, and that’s what we are going to be seeking to do,” Arteta told Sky Sports earlier this month.
One established player that Arteta wants to bring to the Emirates is the Spanish midfielder Ruiz.
The 26-year-old is nearing the end of his deal with the Serie A giants. According to RAI journalist Ciro Venerato, Arsenal and Manchester United are vying for his signature this summer, with Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis apparently willing to let him depart for under £25 million.
Speaking to La Domenica Sportive Estate, via Napoli Magazine, Venerato said: “De Laurentiis would like to give away Fabian Ruiz, valued at €30million (£25million). And, on him are Arsenal and Manchester United.”
Ruiz would fit in wonderfully with Arteta’s preferred 4-3-3 formation, providing a rare blend of outstanding ball progression and clever game reading, comparable to what injury-prone master Thomas Partey currently provides the Gunners.
He has, however, previously stated his wish to return to La Liga in the near future.
“It’s flattering to hear about these clubs’ interest in me, that’s for sure,” he said earlier this year when asked about reported interest from Real Madrid and Barcelona. “Right now, I only think of Napoli, I am very comfortable here, and we have big challenges ahead.
“The idea of returning to Spain in the future is always present: it is my home.”
