With the Premier League season well and truly over, the summer transfer window is slowly starting to loom over Arsenal.
And there are already signs that it will be a huge window for the north London club, having already announced one signing in Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Granit Xhaka and activated Jamie Vardy’s £20million release.
Indeed, with his contract due to expire at the end of next season, Arsene Wenger may have just one chance left to win the Premier League title and appears determined to make the most of it.
But we at Football FanCast are always keen to bring fan opinions into the debate, so earlier this week we launched a poll of 22 known Arsenal transfer targets requesting a simple thumbs up or thumbs down for each.
We’re pleased to announced the results are now in, meaning we can reveal the ten transfer targets Arsenal fans want their club to sign most this summer.
You’ll have to read through to find out No.1 – but we can tell you know that Vardy didn’t make the list, coming in at a lowly 11th place!
10. Aymeric Laporte
Arsenal fans appear keen for Arsene Wenger to sign a centre-back this summer, with Aymeric Laporte one of three to make our top ten. The 22-year-old is rated as one of the most exciting young defenders in world football, having already registered 150 appearances for Athletic Bilbao at senior level and made it into the La Liga Team of the Year. His ball-playing abilities certainly suit the Gunners’ possession-based mantra but voters may have been put off by his £39million price-tag – not to mention the fact he appears to be on the move to Manchester City.
9. KOSTAS MANOLAS
Rocking in at number nine is another centre-half – Kostas Manolas, who the Gunners tried to sign back in summer 2014. The 24-year-old moved to Roma instead and has since flourished into an incredibly talented defender, boasting great pace and all the defensive sturdiness you’d expect of a regular Greece international. But Giallorossi appear reluctant to part with the former Olympiacos star, whilst Arsenal face competition from Chelsea and Leicester City for his signature.
8. Gonzalo Higuain
Another old transfer flame, Arsenal fans certainly wouldn’t mind the club reviving their long-term interest in Napoli’s Gonzalo Higuain, who came very close to signing for the Gunners three years ago. The Argentina international is up there with the best goal-scorers in world football, notching up 91 goals in 141 appearances for the Naples outfit – including 38 goals last season. Aged 28, the former Real Madrid star appears ready to move on this summer, but recent reports suggest Chelsea are more interested than Arsenal.
7. N’Golo Kante
The arrival of Granit Xhaka has arguably addressed Arsenal’s need for more grit in midfield, but 423 fans would still like to see the Gunners activate N’Golo Kante’s £20million release clause. The France international was nothing short of phenomenal last season, averaging the most tackles and interceptions per match of any Premier League player as the Foxes lifted the title. The 25-year-old seems destined for a big move this summer, but the Gunners have other priorities.
6. ALVARO MORATA
Arsenal can’t afford not to add to their strike force this summer and a healthy portion of fans would be more than happy to see Alvaro Morata arrive at the Emirates. The Spain international isn’t a great goal scorer but has a knack for netting important ones – including five in the Champions League as Juventus reached the 2015 final. Aged 23, Morata has a big future ahead of him and will almost certainly be on the market this summer. Rumour has it Real Madrid will activate a buyback clause before selling on their star at a significant profit.
5. Kalidou Koulibaly
Finishing off our centre-back cohort is Kalidou Koulibaly, whose stock appears to be rising by the day. The Napoli star measures in at a whopping 6 foot 5, can also operate at right-back or defensive midfield and would add a real physical element to Arsenal’s backline. The 24-year-old has been talking up move this week and Arsenal are one of the clubs in the frame to snap him up, but he’ll likely set them back in excess of £23million.
4. RIYAD MAHREZ
The second Leicester star to make this list, Riyad Mahrez received an impressive 699 upvotes from our readers. The Algerian international has enjoyed a meteoric rise since plying his trade with Le Harve reserves just four years ago, performing a talismanic role in the Foxes’ title bid and accordingly earning the PFA Player of the Year award with 17 goals and eleven assists in 37 Premier League appearances. The winger’s rise could continue with a summer move to a top-end club, but the King Power Stadium outfit will be loathed to lose him.
3. RICARDO RODRIGUEZ
Kieran Gibbs appears to be on his way out of the Emirates whilst Nacho Monreal, although consistent, has never been much of a world-beater. Accordingly, our Arsenal readers are keen for Arsene Wenger to sign a new No.3 this summer in the form of Wolfsburg’s flying full-back Ricardo Rodriguez, who boasts 13 goals and umpteen more assists in 125 Bundesliga appearances for the Volkswagen Arena outfit. Arsenal are reportedly preparing £19million bid for the Switzerland international but he’s attracted interest from Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Manchester United – to name a few – in the past.
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2. PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG
Fast, tricky on the ball and nothing short of lethal in front of goal, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could well be the signing that re-establishes Arsenal as genuine Premier League title contenders. Indeed, the Gabon international is famed for his scintillating speed and boasts 80 goals in 140 appearances for Borussia Dortmund – including a career-best 39 strikes across all competitions last season. But the 26-year-old is reportedly valued at a whopping £70million and recent reports suggest he’s verging on a move to Manchester City.
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1. HENRIKH MKHITARYAN
Recent reports claim Arsenal already have a £25million deal in the pipeline for Henrikh Mkhitaryan, which is perhaps why the Borussia Dortmund midfielder tops our poll with 1255 upvotes. The Armenian international bagged a whopping 23 goals and 32 assists across all competitions last season and with his Dortmund set to expire in a years’ time, he’s rapidly emerging as one of the summer transfer window’s hottest properties. The 26-year-old would add real dynamism to Arsenal’s midfield and can be deployed in a number of positions, but rumour has it Manchester United are ready to contest the north Londoners for his signature.
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