Arsenal Transfer News: Big-Money Stars Eyed by Arsene Wenger in Latest Rumours

Arsenal’s seasons follow a pretty familiar pattern: disaster—everything is wonderful—disaster. And Saturday’s defeat at the hands of bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur saw fans’ heads once again drop after a month of proudly donning their colours.

Manager Arsene Wenger’s new tactic of deploying more solidity in big games has worked wonders of late, but there remain question marks as to whether or not he has the personnel at his disposal to employ such a method.

Well, the latest transfer rumours have brought about two players that could well help the Frenchman on his quest, starting with one of the most talented defensive midfielders in world football.

Marco Verratti

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Paris Saint-Germain star Marco Verratti’s future has been up in the air lately and, according to the Daily Star, Wenger will hunt the midfielder when the summer transfer window opens.

The Italian is somewhat of a pass master, lying deep in midfield and picking up the ball before effectively spraying it around to keep play ticking over.

Although the emergence of Francis Coquelin has eased the Gunners’ defensive-midfield woes, there’s no doubt that Verratti would be a superb addition.

Christophe Ena/Associated Press

The stats back that up, too, as Squawka Football’s figures reveal that the 22-year-old has a 92 per cent pass accuracy rating this season, but most importantly, he hasn’t made a single defensive error.

That’s where Arsenal’s current crop fall foul, as midfielders being caught out of position or making wrong decisions has led to some vital goals being conceded.

Verratti, though, isn’t that kind of player. He accepts his responsibilities and executes them with style.

It’s hardly surprising that he’ll cost Wenger a mini fortune to get on the club’s books, then, with Daily Star’s report suggesting that a fee of around £40 million will be demanded by PSG.

Christophe Ena/Associated Press

Getting Verratti to agree to the move could also prove tough. The 22-year-old turned down a move to Juventus in January, but it seems an eventual return to his homeland is more attractive a proposition than heading to the Premier League—as reported by Chris Myson of Goal.com, per Gazzetta dello Sport:

"

One day I want to play in Serie A. Back when I played for Pescara I was sought after by a lot of clubs, but if I had ended up at Juventus I doubt they would have given me the same space that I have with PSG. I am at a great club and I think I made the right choice.

"

Verratti is clearly a player in high demand, but he’s far from perfect in terms of his disciplinary record.

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The Italian is a bit of a hot head, and if things don’t go his way then he has a tendency to lash out with a rash challenge or confrontation.

His seven yellow cards this season tell that story perfectly, and beIN Sports’ Adam Digby believes that his passing ability simply masks his occasionally juvenile behaviour on the pitch:

Still, if anyone can tame Verratti then it’s Wenger, who is still the king of man management despite fans constantly calling for his head.

It’s all just a case of whether or not the club see £40 million as a worthy fee for the youngster, but based on his potential, the chequebook should be coming out.

Dani Alves

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Right-back is a position very much up for grabs at Arsenal. Mathieu Debuchy failed to prove himself before his injury, and while Hector Bellerin has been superb upon his introduction to the side, he still has plenty to learn.

So, could Wenger seek an experienced head to shore things up on the flank?

Spanish newspaper Sport believe so, as they’ve reported, via Jamie Sanderson of Metro, that Arsenal are looking to bring the Barcelona man to the Emirates when his contract expires at the end of the campaign.

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The 31-year-old established himself as one of the best full-backs in the world after arriving at the Camp Nou in 2008, but he now looks set to leave after failing to agree terms on a new deal in Catalonia.

What’s Barca’s loss could very much be Arsenal’s gain, then, and Sanderson wrote that Gunners representatives will soon be meeting with the star’s agent Dinorah Santan to discuss the transfer.

That much will suit Alves, who wants to sort his future out as soon as possible, although he has plenty of options to assess.

According to football writer Kristian Sturt, the Brazilian has his heart set on a move to Old Trafford, which means that Wenger must put a lot on the table to get his man:

It could prove to be worth it, though, as Alves brings a level of excitement that few right-backs can rival. Plus, he’d be quite the coup as a freebie.

Many will argue that Debuchy and Bellerin are all that Arsenal need, but Alves’ ability to fill in at left-back could prove incredibly handy.

Journalist Piers Morgan certainly thinks so, too, as he’s clearly not too keen on seeing Nacho Monreal in the line-up:

If the Gunners were looking to splash millions to bring Alves to the Emirates, it wouldn’t make a lot of sense, but signing one of the greats of the game that can raise the performance levels of those around him for nothing would be a smart move.

Plus, giving Bellerin a chance to learn from the best in the business would do nothing but aid his exciting potential.

It’s all down to Wenger now but action is needed quickly if he’s to land these two big talents.