It has been a busy past 24 hours or so for Arsenal when it comes to transfer rumours. Much has been said this summer about the Gunners’ potential incomings, with the window having officially opened last Monday.
Manager Mikel Arteta, following his side’s Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain last month, was honest about the areas his squad is lacking in quality. That, along with Josh Kroenke’s admission that they cannot be satisfied with winning the Premier League this season, point towards a summer of heavy expenditure.
That is expected to match the club record £250million splurged last year. It is thought their aim this time around, however, is to sign three to five higher quality players.
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But, in order to do so, sporting director Andrea Berta needs to sell players too. Now, Mirror Football takes a look at two of the latest transfer stories involving the English champions.
Gabriel Martinelli is reportedly open to leaving Arsenal this summer. The Times reports the Gunners star is keen to explore a move abroad as speculation ramps up over Arsenal wanting to sign a left winger.
It is no secret that Arteta thinks the left wing position needs the most urgent attention in the transfer window, given neither Martinelli nor Leandro Trossard possess the world class talent needed to take the team to the next level.
The Brazilian still has a year left on his contract, which can be extended by an additional season. He was previously linked with a move to Bayern Munich before they landed Luis Diaz last summer.
Martinelli, 25, could fetch a larger fee than Trossard due to his age and could therefore potentially be the first to leave. He has spent seven seasons in N5, scoring 62 goals in 278 appearances.
View 2 ImagesPiero Hincapie is a target for Real Madrid(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Piero Hincapie is reportedly a target for Real Madrid following Jose Mourinho’s appointment. Mourinho, who has already signed four new players for Los Blancos, is now looking to hijack the Ecuadorian defender’s permanent move to the Emirates Stadium.
Despite already bringing in Marc Cucurella, ESPN claim Real Madrid want a left-footed centre-back who can also play as a left-back. Hincapie, 24, fits that profile and the report states Real have made an inquiry.
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Arsenal signed Hincapie on a season-long loan deal from Bayer Leverkusen last summer, with an obligation to buy for £45m. While a permanent transfer is yet to be confirmed, it is widely expected he will return from the World Cup as an Arsenal player.
Hincapie ended his first season in England as the first-choice left-back under Arteta. He featured 25 times in their league title-winning campaign and made a further 14 appearances in cup competitions.
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