Arsenal want Rice and Caicedo to offload Xhaka, Smith Rowe, Balogun and Holding
Granit Xhaka could be among the biggest names to depart, with Arsenal also likely to try to offload Kieran Tierney, Emile Smith Rowe, Folarin Balogun and the likes
Arsenal have cleared Mikel Arteta to break the club’s spending record this summer in a splurge that may exceed £200 million.
Arteta wants to sign the midfielders Declan Rice and Moisés Caicedo, from West Ham United and Brighton & Hove Albion respectively, who could cost a combined £170 million.
Arsenal are determined to build on their title challenge this season, and will also return to the Champions League for the first time since 2016-2017.
Arteta has racked up a net transfer spend of about £330 million since taking charge in December 2019. In addition to Rice and Caicedo, he wants to sign an attacking player and two defenders in an outlay that will be part-funded by player sales, which could generate about £100 million.
That includes offloading the winger Nicolas Pépé, who was the club’s £72 million record signing when he joined in 2019 and whose contract expires in June 2024.
West Ham want an initial £80 million plus add-ons for Rice, but Arsenal face competition from Newcastle United and potentially Manchester United.
Arsenal could renew interest in Raphinha, who can play across the attack and could leave Barcelona, and Moussa Diaby, the Bayer Leverkusen winger. They have also been linked with Mason Mount, the Chelsea midfielder.
Granit Xhaka could be among the biggest names to depart, with Arsenal also likely to try to offload Kieran Tierney, Emile Smith Rowe, Folarin Balogun, Rob Holding, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Nuno Tavares and Cédric Soares.
Arsenal have topped the Premier League table for almost the whole season but as good as conceded the title to Manchester City after their 3-0 home defeat by Brighton on Sunday, which meant they have collected only nine points from a possible 21 in their past seven games.
After the game Arteta was paid a visit by Josh Kroenke, the club’s director and son of the owner, Stan Kroenke. Arsenal’s 248 days top this season would be the most in top-flight history without winning the title.
