Arsenal Transfer News: Arsene Wenger Backed, Latest Zlatan Ibrahimovic Rumours

Arsenal fans may be publicly calling for manager Arsene Wenger to be sacked, but Matt Law of the Daily Telegraph has revealed the Frenchman will retain complete control of matters on and off the pitch next term.

That means Wenger will hold all the cards in the upcoming transfer window, where he’ll be expected to bring several big-name players to the Emirates or suffer further wrath from supporters.

Fans protested with “Time For Change” placards during the Gunners’ 1-0 victory over Norwich City on Saturday in the Premier League, although the opinion that Wenger’s time at the helm should be over wasn’t quite as popular as first thought.

ESPN’s Miguel Delaney was in north London as the signs were held up:

Club owner Stan Kroenke wasn’t deterred by the Emirates faithful and is said to still trust Wenger’s judgement completely. And the man himself vowed to come back stronger next term and launch a serious title bid, via Law:

"

I just think that we are here to give our best. We have been remarkably consistent at the top.

There are disappointed people because we didn't win the league. Believe me, we are as well. We have to come back and win it and that is all we can do.

[...]

 

I am in a public job and I have to live with judgement as long as it is respectful. If it is only opinion, we have all to accept that because we are in a public job.

"

Paul Gilham/Getty Images

Signing a marquee striker could see Wenger silence a lot of his critics, and one superstar who certainly fits fans’ fantasies is the mercurial Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The Paris Saint-Germain forward is out of contract at the end of the current campaign, and Get French Football revealed he’s decided to leave the French capital in the summer:

"

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has decided to leave PSG at the end of the season & Laurent Blanc is aware of his decision, according to Le Parisien.

— Get French Football (@GFFN) May 2, 2016"

Arsenal, then, will be one of many teams licking their chops at the thought of landing Ibrahimovic on a free transfer, and they’ve reportedly made a move to sign him, per Jack Wilson of the Daily Star.

Wilson said both Manchester United and Arsenal are ready to put a contract on the table for the 34-year-old, and after Wenger turned down the chance to sign him as a youngster, summer could finally bring a redemption chance.

However, another one of Arsenal’s transfer targets looks set to slip through Wenger’s fingers, as Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Granit Xhaka is reportedly waiting on a move to Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.

Martin Meissner/Associated Press

That’s according to German newspaper Express, which reports Bayern will trigger a £24 million clause in Xhaka’s contract at the end of next season, and the Swiss star is happy to stay at Monchengladbach until that time, via Anthony Chapman of the Sun.

Xhaka is one of the most highly rated midfielders in the German top flight, and this news will come as a big blow to Arsenal and Wenger.

The Frenchman is said to already be working on transfers for the summer, with numerous positions in need of tweaking before the 2016/17 campaign.

Wenger will, of course, remain coy on transfer activity, but unless he brings in the kind of players that are good enough for domestic and European glory, loyal supporters at the Emirates may think about joining the placard bearers.