Saturday, 31 May 2014

Mario Mandzukic, Karim Benzema, Cesc Fabregas and the other stars Wenger hopes to help Arsenal win Premier League

His future secured by a new three-year contract worth £8m a season and his transfer coffers boosted by £100m, Arsene Wenger will now begin the process of building another successful Arsenal side.
The Frenchman, who will complete two decades in charge of the north London club if he sees out his new contract, has already drawn up a shortlist of summer targets.
Wenger sees this month’s FA Cup triumph as only the beginning and the club’s hierarchy have backed him to build another all-conquering Arsenal side.
He will prioritise three key areas to strengthen - right-back, central midfield and up front - and here’s our lowdown on the potential recruits.
Ready to splash the cash? Arsene Wenger has plenty of money to play with at Arsenal this summer
Ready to splash the cash? Arsene Wenger has plenty of money to play with at Arsenal this summer

Calum Chambers (Southampton)
With 31-year-old Bacary Sagna yet to commit to a new contract and strong interest in him from Manchester City, Paris St Germain and Galatasaray, Wenger will likely need a new right-back.
Chambers has enjoyed a breakthrough season for Southampton, making 22 appearances in the Barclays Premier League and impressing many with his boldness going forward.
The 19-year-old is currently England captain at that age group and is expected to make the transition into Roy Hodgson’s senior squad just as his Southampton clubmate Luke Shaw has done.
He is certainly one for the future and would suit Arsenal with his strong attributes both in attack and defence. He delivered 87 crosses in Premier League matches last season and his tackle success rate was a very good 84 per cent.
Probability: 5/10
Atsuto Uchida (Schalke)
Japanese international Uchida would also fit the bill for a forward-thinking right-sided player and has just one year remaining on his contract, which may persuade the Bundesliga club to sell.
After moving from J-League side Kashima Antlers, Uchida has established himself as one of the best in his position in the German top flight and was voted by fans in the Team of the Season.
With 127 appearances for Schalke and 67 caps for Japan under his belt, Uchida obviously represents a more experienced alternative to Chambers but he does have a tendency to get caught out of position too far forward.
Probability: 6.5/10
Hot prospect: Full back Calum Chambers is yet another youngster pulling up trees at Southampton
Hot prospect: Full back Calum Chambers is yet another youngster pulling up trees at Southampton
A bright future: 21-year-old defender Serge Aurier has kicked on since moving to Toulouse in Ligue 1
A bright future: 21-year-old defender Serge Aurier has kicked on since moving to Toulouse in Ligue 1

Key man: Atsuto Uchida will play for Japan at the World Cup in Brazil when it kicks off in a fortnight
Key man: Atsuto Uchida will play for Japan at the World Cup in Brazil when it kicks off in a fortnight


Serge Aurier (Toulouse)
Ivorian Aurier would not take much persuading to make the move to north London. The 21-year-old is a lifelong Arsenal fan, has posted pictures on social media in an Arsenal shirt and has gone on record to say he ‘could not refuse’ if Wenger came calling.
After coming through the ranks at Lens, Aurier moved to Toulouse in 2012 and has continued his impressive development.
Like the other two, he is not shy in bombing forward down the wing and delivering crosses. Aurier scored six goals and contributed seven assists in Ligue 1 last season and earned himself a place in the provisional Ivory Coast squad for the World Cup.
Probability: 6.5/10
Lars Bender (Bayer Leverkusen)
Wenger tried to sign Bender last summer but instead ended up with Mathieu Flamini for a second spell, offering a bit of substance in the midfield.
But despite Germany international Bender saying earlier this year that he is not ready to make the step up to the Premier League, Wenger may test Leverkusen’s resolve with a bid in the region of £20m.
That value is unlikely to increase this summer after Bender was ruled out of the World Cup with a thigh injury sustained during the squad’s training camp in the Tyrol.
From his deep-lying position in midfield, Bender would bring a tireless workrate and plenty of tenacity to shield the back four.
Probability: 7/10
Morgan Schneiderlin (Southampton)
There was some intense competition, but Schneiderlin scooped both the Player’s Player of the Year and the Fans’ Player of the Year accolades at Southampton following an excellent campaign.
He topped the Premier League rankings for interceptions (139) and tackles (146), scored a couple of Premier League goals and had a pass completion record of 84 per cent.
That’s a strong hand and it’s little wonder Wenger is interested in the Frenchman, who would come far cheaper than Bender.
Probability: 6/10
Cesc Fabregas (Barcelona)
There will be no shortage of suitors should Barcelona decide to offload Fabregas this summer and Wenger will hope that the emotional pull of a return to Arsenal will give them the advantage.
Arsenal fans who witnessed his brilliance prior to his departure back to Catalonia in 2011 don’t need to be told that Fabregas brings style, creativity, intelligence and a fine passing range.
He scored eight times and set up 19 other goals in La Liga alone last season and Wenger knows he won’t come cheap - somewhere between £35m and £40m will be required - or easily, with expected interest from Manchester United and others.
But it would be an immensely popular move to see the former captain return to the Emirates.
Probability: 6/10

Ball player: Morgan Schneiderlin (right, next to Patrice Evra) is with France after ticking over Saints' midfield
Ball player: Morgan Schneiderlin (right, next to Patrice Evra) is with France after ticking over Saints' midfield

Coming back home? Spain's Cesc Fabregas
Coming back home? Spain's Cesc Fabregas
On the up: Germany's Lars Bender
On the up: Germany's Lars Bender

Known each other a while: Fabregas, pictured with Arsene Wenger in 2003, has previous with the Gunners
Known each other a while: Fabregas, pictured with Arsene Wenger in 2003, has previous with the Gunners

Alvaro Morata (Real Madrid)
Arsenal chiefs have already made enquiries with Real Madrid over 21-year-old Morata, well aware that Juventus and other leading clubs have expressed a keen interest in one of Europe’s hottest properties.
Morata made 23 league appearances last season but the majority were in fits and starts from the bench and if Karim Benzema decides to sign a new contract, he may be tempted to seek more regular action elsewhere.
Arsenal scored 68 goals in the Premier League last season, significantly less than the 102 of champions Manchester City and the 101 of runners-up Liverpool. It is imperative they bring in an effective striker if they are to challenge for the title once again.
The main stumbling block in any deal would be Real’s insistence that they can buy Morata back within two years if he proves himself at another club.
Probability: 7/10
Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
The aforementioned Benzema, Real’s first choice striker who scored 24 goals and created a further 16 in all competitions last season, would be a more reliable, if expensive, choice.
Arsenal also enquired about his availability after the Champions League final, knowing that Benzema has yet to commit to a contract extension with just one season left to run.
Wenger has a long-standing interest in his compatriot and Arsenal have been linked with him for three consecutive summers now.
The signing of Benzema would represent a real coup for Wenger, the perfect start to his plans to construct another great Arsenal team. The striker would certainly guarantee 20-25 goals a season if he continues his current progress.
Probability: 4/10
Time's running out: Croatian Mario Mandzukic is likely to leave German champions Bayern Munich this summer
Time's running out: Croatian Mario Mandzukic is likely to leave German champions Bayern Munich this summer

Take your pick! Real Madrid striking pair Karim Benzema (left) and Alvaro Morata are both on Arsenal's radar
Take your pick! Real Madrid striking pair Karim Benzema (left) and Alvaro Morata are both on Arsenal's radar
Take your pick! Real Madrid striking pair Karim Benzema (left) and Alvaro Morata are both on Arsenal's radar

Mario Mandzukic (Bayern Munich)
With Robert Lewandowski arriving from Borussia Dortmund, at least one of Bayern’s uber-prolific front line will have to be sacrificed and the feeding frenzy looks likeliest to surround Mandzukic.
Manchester United and Chelsea are among the big clubs interested, meaning Arsenal would face stiff competition for a striker who scored 26 goals last season despite rarely completing a full 90 minutes.
Despite the impressive goal haul, Mandzukic was absent from the club’s end-of-season celebrations, the final sign that his time at the Allianz Arena has expired.
The arrival of Lewandowski, announced last summer, combined with a deterioration of the Croat’s relationship with Pep Guardiola, have meant his departure has become inevitable.
He is a proven goalscorer and a proven winner, and Wenger will face a real fight to sign him.
Probability: 6/10
Loic Remy (Queens Park Rangers)
Despite leading his team straight back into the Premier League, QPR boss Harry Redknapp is resigned to losing French striker Remy, who spent last season on loan at Newcastle United.
His 14 Premier League goals in 26 games were a rare highlight in Newcastle’s season but had the consequence of attracting the attention of a number of bigger clubs.
With QPR needing to balance the books, a move across London to the Emirates could happen for a reasonable price of perhaps £10m or less. 
Probability: 6.5/10
Different option? Frenchman Loic Remy was superb up front for Newcastle United last season
Different option? Frenchman Loic Remy was superb up front for Newcastle United last season

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