Ranking Arsenal's Transfer Rumours on Excitement Factor
With Arsenal not playing a competitive fixture until August, Gunners fans' focus is now firmly on the transfer market. Every day the fans will be scouring newspapers and websites to discover who their team will be linked with next.
This is a big summer for Arsenal. Having dropped out of the Champions League for the first time in Arsene Wenger's reign, the Gunners will need to significantly strengthen their squad if they're to force their way back into the top four next season.
Wenger has already added Bosnian wing-back Sead Kolasinac to the team but knows he'll need more additions to restore Arsenal to their former glory.
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In this piece, we look at the current rumoured signings at Arsenal and rank them according to how exciting they are. Will they have fans grimacing like the nightmare acquisitions of Mikael Silvestre or Park Chu-Young of the past, or are they setting pulses racing like the arrival of Mesut Ozil back in 2013?
8. Joel Asoro
Whatever his priorities with the first team, Wenger is always on the lookout for promising young talent. That explains his interest in Sunderland's 18-year old striker Joel Asoro. The Swede, currently on international duty with his country's U21 side, made four senior appearances last season and is now reportedly the subject of interest from Arsenal.
Asoro said recently, per the Evening Standard:
"People were a little shocked because I have played very little first-team football. I've heard a little bit, but if I think about it too much, it becomes 'what if, what if.' I try not to think about it too much."
Asoro is a well-regarded prospect, but Arsenal fans might struggle to get too invested in this particular transfer story. Even if he does sign, he's unlikely to play any part in the first team next season.
7. Sander Berge
This is another story about Arsenal being linked with a Scandinavian teenager. However, it's a little more exciting than the Asoro rumour, because Sander Berge is already a full at international at 19 years of age.
The Norwegian enjoyed a breakthrough season with Belgian side Genk in 2016/17, and Chris Hatherall of the Mirror reported Arsenal could be willing to part with as much as £18 million to sign the holding midfielder.
Arsenal fans will be treating this story with some suspicion—Wenger already has plenty of central midfielders at his disposal, and it's difficult to imagine that an inexperienced player such as Berge could make much impact on the senior squad.
6. Mario Lemina
Italian journalist Tancredi Palmeri reported that Arsenal have contacted Juventus to discuss the signing of Mario Lemina.
The Gabon midfielder joined the Italian giants from Marseille in 2015 but has struggled to nail down a regular place in Massimiliano Allegri's side. It certainly sounds as if Lemina is open to a move. In an interview with Foot Mercato (h/t the Express), he said:
"My objective is to move up the ladder, if I have to leave Juve I'd like an experience with a club abroad. Going back to Marseille? On a personal level I don't think that would be the right move.
"Arsenal or Watford? Of course those links flatter me, but personally I've never doubted my qualities.
"I'm at a very big club now, but I haven't been able to show my qualities at that level, so it's flattering that big clubs are showing up."
Arsenal fans won't be thrilled to be linked with a player who is openly considering a switch to Watford.
5. Chris Smalling
Arsenal have signed a central defender from Manchester United before, and it didn't turn out well—in fact, Silvestre's aforementioned switch south was nothing short of a disaster.
Perhaps that explains the muted response to the rumours about Chris Smalling. Martin Blackburn of The Sun reported that United's signing of Victor Lindelof has opened the door for Smalling to return to London.
Arsenal rivaled United for Smalling's signature when he left Fulham back in 2010. However, Arsenal fans would not be particularly excited to see the club swooping for a player deemed surplus to requirements by Jose Mourinho.
4. Aleksandr Golovin
Until recently, the news that Arsenal were pursuing young Russia international Aleksandr Golovin had been greeted with little more than a shrug by most Gunners fans.
Russian journalist Kazak Kovllya (h/t the Express) claimed that Arsenal would sign the playmaker for £10 million before immediately loaning him back to his current club CSKA Moscow. While ordinarily that kind of deal would not be particularly exciting, expectations were raised by Golovin's impressive performance in Russia's 2-0 win over New Zealand in the Confederations Cup.
After that skilful showing, Arsenal supporters will be keeping a close eye on any further rumours about Golovin's future.
3. Thomas Lemar
Thomas Lemar was one of the stars of France's recent 3-2 friendly win over England, so it's no surprise Arsenal fans are thrilled at the prospect of seeing him line up at the Emirates Stadium next season. According to Jeremy Wilson of the Telegraph, Lemar is one of three French prospects Wenger is looking to lure to north London this summer.
The winger scored 14 goals and made 17 assists last season as Monaco stormed to the Ligue 1 title. With doubts over the future of Alexis Sanchez, the pursuit of Lemar could be seen as a way of safeguarding against the Chilean's possible departure.
If Alexis did go, it would come as a huge blow—but the signing of Lemar could go a little way towards redressing the balance.
2. Alexandre Lacazette
Arsenal need a new centre-forward this summer, and Lyon's Alexandre Lacazette appears to figure prominently on Wenger's list of targets.
That's understandable: After all, the France international has bagged 100 league goals in 203 games. The pacy frontman had looked nailed on for a move to Atletico Madrid, but their transfer embargo has put his future in doubt.
According to Alec Shilton of The Sun, Arsenal are considering meeting Lyon's £50 million valuation. Ultimately, the strength of Wenger's conviction about signing Lacazette may well depend on how he fares in pursuit of his top target…
1. Kylian Mbappe
No transfer rumour has the Arsenal fans salivating like the link of Monaco's teen sensation Kylian Mbappe. In his Telegraph piece, Wilson indicated Arsenal are prepared to rival Real Madrid to secure his signature:
"Mbappe has emerged as the most sought-after young striker in world football and, while he is valued at a potential world-record fee and is of competing interest to Real Madrid, Arsenal hope that their promise of regular first-team football would represent a more attractive step at this stage of his development."
If Arsenal could land the most prized young player on the continent, it would be a huge lift to the whole club. It would transform perception of the Gunners' standing in the market place—and that's without mentioning the threat Mbappe could bring on the field.
James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and follows the club from a London base.
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