Arsenal Transfer News: Top Targets for Arsene Wenger This Summer

Arsenal's season could take an upturn on Saturday if they can get past Wigan in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley and set themselves up for their first piece of silverware since 2005.

However, even if they manage to win the FA Cup, it will not have been a great campaign for Arsene Wenger's men.

Top of the league for much of the season, they have taken a significant nose dive in recent weeks that culminated in last weekend's 3-0 loss to Everton, which puts the Gunners in serious danger of not making the top four. 

Wenger needs to strengthen his squad for next season, especially up front where more firepower is needed, with Olivier Giroud having scored just once in the last six league games, per BBC Sport.

Here, we take a look at a few players Wenger should look to bring in over the summer.

Romelu Lukaku, Everton

Jon Super

As reported in the Mirror on Monday, former Gunner Kevin Campbell said of the Chelsea-owned Everton striker:

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If he’s not part of Chelsea’s plans next season I’m sure Everton would like to sign him.

If they can’t do business though, I wouldn’t be surprised if the likes of Arsenal are interested in him.

He’s young, he’s strong, he’s quick and he’s direct. What more do you need?

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And Wenger could certainly do a lot worse than bringing in the 20-year-old Belgian, who has scored 13 goals in 25 appearances this season, per Squawka.

One of those goals came in the Toffees' convincing win over Arsenal at Goodison Park last weekend, which even those on the Gunners' bench seemed to enjoy:

Lukaku has been a key component of Roberto Martinez's side this season and has chipped in with six assists to go with his goals, per WhoScored.com.

Giroud started the season well, bagging 10 of his 13 league goals this season before the end of January, per BBC Sport. 

But his dip in form has coincided with Arsenal's descent down the table, and he could really do with some assistance leading line.

Mario Mandzukic, Bayern Munich

Matthias Schrader

Heavily linked with a move away from Bayern Munich due to the imminent arrival of Lewandowski at the Allianz Arena, Mandzukic is a world-class striker.

He played a key role in both legs of Bayern's victorious 4-2 quarter-final Champions League tie against Manchester United, and his size causes all kinds of problems.

The Croatian has been linked with a move to the Emirates and the Metro recently suggested that a deal was likely: 

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Arsenal have been given a boost in the hunt for Mario Mandzukic after the striker’s agent arrived in London for talks over a summer transfer.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is on the lookout for a top-class striker, and he is known to be a fan of Croatian international Mandzukic.

"

And certainly the 27-year-old has huge amounts of quality that would be a significant boost for the North London outfit. He has 17 Bundesilga goals this season from 27 appearances, per Squawka.

While not necessarily typifying the kind of strikers who appeared in Wenger's best sides, such as Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry, he would offer a different option for the Frenchman.

And he seems to offer relative value, with the Daily Mail's John Edwards suggesting he is worth around £20 million.

Julian Draxler, Schalke

Lars Baron/Getty Images

Long rumoured as a target for Wenger, per John Cross in the Mirror, the 20-year-old Schalke attacking midfielder would certainly suit the Frenchman's philosophy of bringing young players to the Emirates.

He would slot into Arsenal's passing game—he has 85 per cent pass accuracy in the Bundelsiga this season per Squawka—and his creative flair is something to behold.

However, Arsenal could struggle for the young German's signature with the Metro's Hannah Duncan (h/t Sky90) reporting that Schalke sporting director Horst Heldt said in March: "I believe that Draxler will stay with us."

And, even if he is for sale, they could face competition from German champions Bayern, according to German football pundit Jan Aage Fjortoft:

Per Cross' report from January, Draxler is valued at £30 million, a huge amount for someone so young and potentially off-putting to the famously-frugal Wenger.

But now is not the time to be counting the pennies. Arsenal desperately need an injection of new talent—they have looked alarmingly short of ideas lately—and Draxler would bring that.