Scouting 3 Potential Summer Transfers for Arsenal

With the opening of the transfer window upon us, Arsenal’s scouting team will be fully focused on supplying Arsene Wenger with the reports he needs to inform his summer recruitment drive.

Although the Gunners seemingly have their most complete squad for years, they still failed to mount a credible title challenge this season. If they want to push on and run Chelsea close next year, they will have to add to their existing talent roster.

In this piece, we look at three individuals linked with Arsenal and deliver a report on their suitability to Wenger’s plans.

Petr Cech, Chelsea

Petr Cech seems certain to leave Chelsea this summer. Having lost his first-team spot to Thibaut Courtois, Cech will be determined to find a club offering regular football and a competitive atmosphere. Arsenal certainly fit the bill, and crucially, they would allow the player to remain in London.

According to Cech’s agent, the goalkeeper’s open to the prospect of a move. Viktor Kolar told the London Evening Standard (h/t Sky Sports): "Arsenal, [Manchester] United or [Paris Saint-Germain] are all top clubs and Petr would like to join one of them, definitely". The challenge will be convincing Chelsea to let him join a rival. 

If Arsenal sign Cech, they will be recruiting an experienced player who knows what it takes to win the Premier League title. At present, the only member of the squad who has crossed that line is former Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck. Cech’s winning mentality could prove to be an invaluable addition.

Morgan Schneiderlin

With the long-term futures of Mathieu Flamini and Mikel Arteta both uncertain, Arsenal will also be on the lookout for a defensive midfielder this summer. Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin could well provide the answer, with Greg Stobart of Goal suggesting that Wenger has been carefully tracking the France international.

It’s easy to see why Schneiderlin would be an attractive option for Arsenal. They currently play with both Francis Coquelin and Santi Cazorla at the base of their midfield, forcing Aaron Ramsey into an uncomfortable wide position. Schneiderlin combines some of the key attributes of both Coquelin and Cazorla, as he is strong in the tackle but also an astute distributor of the ball. According to Squawka, he has a pass accuracy of 89 per cent to complement his natural ball-winning attributes.

Bringing Schneiderlin in could alleviate the need for both Coquelin and Cazorla, allowing Ramsey to return to his best position in the heart of midfield. A Ramsey-Schneiderlin partnership could be one of the most impressive in the Premier League.

Raheem Sterling

With news coming via Ben Smith of BBC Sport that Raheem Sterling is determined to leave Liverpool this summer, Arsenal will surely be on alert. Wenger is always keen to acquire elite English talent to expand the British core at the heart of his squad.

It’s more than just Sterling’s nationality that makes him a good fit for Arsenal. His speed and trickery are ideal for Arsenal’s intricate attacking style.

It’s clear where he’d fit in to Wenger’s team. If Aaron Ramsey were to vacate the right-wing berth, Sterling would be a great choice to fill the consequent vacancy. According to Squawka, he has fashioned a remarkable 75 goalscoring chances in 35 Premier League appearances this season. In the current Arsenal squad, only Alexis Sanchez and Cazorla come close to that level of creativity.

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and is following the club from a London base throughout the 2014-15 season. Follow him on Twitter here.