Arsenal’s potential to break their summer transfer record again may seem unlikely compared to where they were a decade ago.
Still, the Gunners are in the title race, and Champions League qualification is already secured. This could help convince top targets to consider the Emirates their next destination.
The Live News reports that Declan Rice remains the top target for Arsenal’s midfield, with the club still showing interest in Moises Caicedo despite having their multiple bids rejected in January.
However, the prospect of signing Rice and Caicedo seems far-fetched, given their high asking prices. David Moyes has suggested that Rice’s value exceeds £100 million, and Brighton showed no signs of buckling to Arsenal’s bids of around £70 million for Caicedo in the previous transfer window.
A double deal for both players could cost Arsenal close to £200 million, which seems unlikely.
Although Arsenal has a reputation for being shrewd with their investments, this notion may be outdated, as the club has spent over a billion pounds on players since Stan Kroenke purchased a stake in 2007.
This investment has increased significantly since Kroenke took complete ownership in 2018. Arsenal broke their transfer record for a player twice, first for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and then for Nicolas Pepe. In 2021, they broke their transfer record for a goalkeeper with Aaron Ramsdale and a defender with Ben White.
The record for a midfielder was also broken in 2020 for Thomas Partey.
In the previous transfer window, Arsenal’s prolonged pursuit of Ukrainian international Mykhailo Mudryk eventually ended after he joined Chelsea in a £88m deal.
Despite making several big-money offers, Arsenal held back on competing with Chelsea. However, French journalist Julian Laurens revealed that Arsenal ownership was willing to match Chelsea’s offer. Still, Mikel Arteta and sporting director Edu Gaspar showed restraint, saying they needed to be disciplined and have a structure.
This revelation may boost Arsenal’s hopes of a big summer spend, with the willingness of those holding the money to spend it.
Arteta was asked if the failed big-money pursuits mean plenty of cash left for the summer, and he replied that it’s a question for the owner. He added that Arsenal needs to maintain discipline and respect what they can afford without putting themselves in difficult positions.
Although Arteta did not commit, the approval to spend big on the right players from above is encouraging, and it may mean that a double deal for Rice and Caicedo isn’t out of the window.
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