Arsenal Transfer News: Arsene Wenger to Get £50m After Latest Financial Results

Arsene Wenger is reportedly set to receive a summer transfer kitty of £50 million in the wake of the Gunners' latest positive set of financial results.

Despite recent heavy investment on the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, Arsenal look set for the usual third or fourth-place Premier League finish this season, as well as a last 16 exit from the Champions League following the devastating first-leg 3-1 loss to Monaco on Wednesday.

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Jeremy Wilson in the Telegraph suggests that such mediocre successes will not cut it for much longer with the Arsenal owners, although Wenger is to be given £50 million to spend on more players at the end of the season. 

After years of austerity, the more free-spending habits seem set to continue at the Emirates, and their most recent financial results reveal increased profits, per Arsenal, AP's Rob Harris providing a pithy summary:

Against Monaco, Arsenal's vulnerability to counter-attacking was once again there for all to see, and Wenger must surely look to finally invest in a top-class holding midfielder to rectify such issues.

Their interest in Southampton's Morgan Schneiderlin has been long reported, but they look set to face competition from Barcelona, per Bruce Archer in the Express.

However, the Catalan giants are currently under a transfer ban not set to be lifted until January 2016, potentially giving the Gunners the edge if Schneiderlin wants a summer move.

According to Fichajes.net (h/t Jamie Sanderson in Metro), the Gunners are set to go all out to pip the La Liga side to the Frenchman's signature, with Arsenal willing to beat Barca's suggested £21.9 million bid. 

The 25-year-old Schneiderlin would be a very valuable addition to the Arsenal squad, bringing enormous quality to a position where the Gunners are currently sorely lacking.

B/R UK's James McNicholas provides several reasons why he would be a tremendous signing:

Arguably the best defensive midfielder in the Premier League at the moment, Schneiderlin's experience in the division would likely see him fit in quickly at Arsenal.

His range of passing is terrific, and most importantly, he would add a long-needed combative edge to Arsenal's core, Schneiderlin being a strong tackler with an excellent read of the game who could break up opposition counter attacks.

Another potential target for the Gunners in the central midfield role is Real Madrid's Asier Illarramendi.

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The Spaniard has fallen further down the pecking order at the Bernabeu since the January arrival of Lucas Silva, with Marca reporting that Illarramendi's days are numbered at Real.  

Wenger has previously been reported to be interested in the 24-year-old, per The Telegraph, and he would certainly be a strong addition to the side.

Illarramendi's distribution is impressive—and improving per Opta—and he is also strong defensively:

However, of the two, Schneiderlin must surely be the primary target given the added presence he would bring to Arsenal in the sense of disrupting opposition attacks, as well as his experience in the English game.

Whatever happens, Wenger desperately needs to fill the defensive midfield gap with a truly top-class player—as he has for some time—or else Arsenal's scope for improvement will be somewhat limited.