Wenger’s £70m Warchest: Three Stars Arsenal should target this summer

Arsene Wenger needs to strengthen the team once again this summer

After another collapse in form in the Premier League, Arsenal have yet another big summer transfer window ahead. After the slow and quiet summer that happened last season, the fans were finally delighted with the signing of Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid.

He was a huge signing and cost a club record £42.4 million. The German hit the ground running but Ozil’s loss of form and fitness coincided with Arsenal’s as they fell away from the title race and into a scrap for fourth place.

Arsenal fans have become all too familiar with this scenario and the club must be as well. With money finally available to spend for Arsene Wenger and a reported £70 million transfer budget set for the Frenchman, which players should he – realistically – target to take Arsenal onto another level?

Mario Mandzukic

Bayern Munich’s Croatian forward Mario Mandzukic (L) vies with Real Madrid’s midfielder Isco during the UEFA Champions League semifinal first leg football match Real Madrid CF vs FC Bayern Munchen

He has been regularly linked with Arsenal this season after it emerged that Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski is crossing the divide and following in Mario Gotze’s footsteps by signing for Bayern Munich.

The Polish striker will join the club in the summer and with Thomas Muller already at the club, some reports have suggested that Mandzukic may be sold by the German club. Due to the way Arsenal play the game and how Wenger likes to use a lone striker to work in tandem with his attacking midfielders, Mandzukic could be perfect.

He is a target man but has plenty of ability and also knows where the goal is. Since signing for Bayern Munich, he’s scored 48 goals in 86 matches so does provide the goal scoring threat that Olivier Giroud does not.

Mandzukic isn’t a Diego Costa or a Luis Suarez but he can score goals and would slot right into the current Arsenal system.

Lars Bender

Leverkusen’s midfielder Lars Bender (R) and Hertha’s forward Sandro Wagner (L) vie for the ball during the German first division Bundesliga football match Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs Hertha Berlin SC

There have been plenty of links to Bender over the past year, with rumours of bids even being submitted, but there is still nothing concrete. The Bayer Leverkusen midfielder is a strong and formidable opponent who could quite easily move straight into Arsenal’s midfield and dominate that area in plenty of games in the Premier League.

He is robust and strong enough to cope with the Premier League and Bundesliga’s energy levels are similar to that of England’s top flight so there would be no concerns over whether he could cope with the pressure and intensity at Arsenal.

Bender has won 80 tackles for Leverkusen this season and completed 43/58 take-ons which is a fantastic figure. He’s also won 69 headed duels.

However, a negative point to his performances this season is his passing. With just 77% of his passes completed, he’d need to step that up considerably to step into the Gunners’ midfield.

The one plus point Bender also carries is the transfer fee he will command. Arsenal should be able to get him for around £12 million and that would constitute good business.

Serge Aurier

Toulouse’s French defender Serge Aurier celebrates after scoring a goal during the French L1 football match Rennes vs Toulouse

An outside shot and a player some people may not have heard or seen much of. He is a fantastic flying right-back and would be an exceptional replacement for Bacary Sagna should he leave this summer. Sagna’s contract expires over the summer and as yet, there have still been no signatures on a new deal so his future is up in the air.

Maybe Wenger is looking elsewhere? He’s always been a fan of French football so I’m sure he’ll have seen Aurier. In fact, just a few days ago, the Metro reported Arsenal’s interest in the player.

Aurier is just 21 years of age and is a powerful runner and defender. Not only can he defend well, having won 77 tackles from 115 contests and 82 headed duels won from 132 contests, he can also attack with real quality. He has scored six goals which is the club’s third-highest figure and he has created 25 chances – the highest figure from the club’s defenders.

In comparison, Sagna is 31, scored once and created 18 chances. The French full-back may not even get a choice over his future. If he dithers any longer on his contract situation, expect Arsenal to sign Aurier and force Sagna’s hand. After all, they can’t afford to sit around and wait for his decision forever.