Just days after Arsenal’s season concluded, speculation over the club’s summer transfer plans is rife, and Edu Gaspar must already be hard at work.
Mikel Arteta introduced the likes of Kai Havertz, Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber in swift fashion last year, a trick he’ll look to repeat.
Arsenal want their improved squad in place for the start of pre-season, and they may be one of the first movers in the summer market.
A new striker seems to be firmly on the agenda, with Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak the favourite if reports are to be believed.
Arsenal haven’t shied away from approaching their Premier League rivals for players over the past 12 months, but they are unlikely to have any luck with Newcastle regarding Isak.
Bruno Guimaraes could be a different prospect given his release clause which stands until the end of June, but £100m may be a little too rich for the club’s liking.
That being said, Arsenal could still have a superb opportunity to add a combative number six who is beginning to go slightly under the radar.
Arsenal now need to reignite interest in Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha
Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha was said to be of interest to Arsenal in previous transfer windows and would still represent a superb signing.
The 28-year-old Portuguese middle man was formidable in Arsenal’s untimely defeat at Craven Cottage this season, and could form an incredibly imperious midfield alongside Declan Rice at Arsenal.
Perhaps Palhinha doesn’t quite have the passing repertoire of Newcastle’s Guimaraes, but he would certainly add to Arsenal’s defensive structure.
Palhinha isn’t young in footballing terms, but would bring a wealth of experience to this Arsenal team who are struggling to quite get over the line.
Fulham would no doubt be reluctant to lose the Portugal international, but he was previously close to sealing a move to Bayern Munich.
And fans of the west London club must be resigned to Palhinha making the next step eventually.
With Palhinha on board, Arsenal could even afford Rice a rest on occasion, a player capable of playing the single pivot as well.
All that being said, Gary Neville has just claimed that one Arsenal player is simply irreplaceable right now.