Who Can You Get For £13m?

Who can you get for £13m?

With Arsene Wenger’s transfer kitty reportedly slashed to £13m this summer, the Frenchman will need to use all his transfer nous to strengthen a side too thin to mount a serious challenge for the title.

Emmanuel Adebayor’s potential £20m sale could inject the cash Wenger needs, but he will be hoping not to sell many players. Arsenal needs a strong, tall centre back, and a powerful box-to-box midfielder with bucket loads of experience. Who should Wenger sign to fill these voids?

Vincent Kompany, Manchester City

Linked with Arsenal at one stage during the summer, the Belgian eventually moved to the blue half of Manchester for a reasonable £6m. He is a tall, dominate centre half with a year of Premier League experience under his belt. He can also play through the centre of midfield, and is a danger at set pieces.

Wenger could kill two birds with one stone with his acquisition, as he would solve the central midfield problem, and slot into centre back if Toure or Gallas and his set piece play would be what Arsenal have lacked.

Price: Probably £10m, and would be the main signing of the summer unless Adebayor leaves.

Likelihood: Unlikely.

Giorgio Chiellini, Juventus

Undoubtedly a quality defender who is strong in the air and good on the ground and with international experience. Perfect.

However, if Wenger’s budget is indeed £13m, Chiellini would leave at most £2m in Wenger’s bank. And £2m doesn’t seem enough to plug the hole in central midfield.

Price: £10m-£15m

Likelihood: Possible, but not probable. He may not even want to come.

Jeremy Toulalan, Lyon

Remarkably, there is a French, young defensive midfielder not linked with Arsenal. His name is Jeremy Toulalan. He is the prototype of everything Arsenal need—he is neat, aggressive, and would allow Fabregas to push further forward.

Toulalan is starting to establish himself as a key member of the French squad, and would probably be keen on a move.

Price: £10-£25m. Lyon have been known to get silly money for their midfielders.

Likelihood:Possible, but Wenger doesn’t seem to want him.

Yaya Toure, Barcelona

Brother of vice-captain Kolo, Yaya is good in the air, can tackle, shoot from distance, pass, and has Champions League experience. He would protect our defensive set pieces, and prove a valuable weapon at corners and free-kicks. He declared he wanted to move to Juventus, only to regain his first team place and state he is happy in Catalonia.

Price: £10m

Likelihood: Very possible.

Honourable Mentions

Gareth Barry

Price: £13m-£16m

Felipe Melo

Price: £10-13m

Mathieu Flamini

Price: £20m

Sebastian Bassong

Price: £5m

Brede Hangeland

£10m

Mamadou Sakho

Price: £7m