My view on Arsenal’s summer transfer window has reached something of a dramatic change in the past couple of weeks. In 2023, the plan for the Gunners was very clear when it came to their priority target with Declan Rice tracked, negotiated for and signed after what felt like an agonising period of time.
What Rice added, alongside a humungous £105million investment, was a guarantee. A player who had Premier League experience with hundreds of matches played, an elite-level quality set and a seamless fit into Mikel Arteta’s current plans.
Fast forward to 2024 and for some time, frankly, I didn’t see there being something of a ‘Declan Rice type’ signing for the Gunners. There are five key areas where strengthening will be needed: goalkeeper (backup to David Raya) defender, central midfield (either a No.6 or No.8 depending on the market) a wide player to compete and offer rotation with Bukayo Saka and a centre-forward option.
The latter has been the priority for many, although who that new striker might be combined with the impressive form of Kai Havertz has made this all the trickier. However, there now has emerged a player who for me is worth a Rice-level investment and has convinced me that he would certainly be worth it and a transformative signing for the club in 2024.