Arsenal have left everything on the pitch throughout the 2022/23 season. The Gunners have gone from top four-failures to Premier League title challengers in the space of 12 months, with a first league title in two decades still a possibility.
Yet with Champions League football returning to the Emirates Stadium, pressure is building ahead of the upcoming transfer window. The principal aim is to add to Mikel Arteta's squad in hope of ensuring this season's performance is not just a flash in the pan.
It's no secret that sporting director Edu Gaspar and Arteta want to strengthen the midfield for next season. football.london understands West Ham and England midfielder Declan Rice is the main priority and the transfer saga will continue throughout the summer.
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The current squad built during Arteta's reign at London Colney has been closely put together with a tight transfer policy. This season, more than any other, the club have more than reaped the rewards. Yet in January, it came very close to being fractured on two occasions.
Ukrainian winger Mykhailo Mudryk flirted and teased a move to the Emirates Stadium throughout the first half of the season with a number of social media posts and interviews. After two failed bids, Arteta and Edu took a backseat and Chelsea swooped in, paying £88m for him.
Later on in the window, Brighton's Moises Caicedo became one of the most in-demand midfielders with, once again, Chelsea and Arsenal battling for his signature. And just as the case was with Mudryk, the Gunners had two bids rejected, refusing to pay well over the odds.
In both instances, Arsenal reinstated their recruitment process elsewhere, signing Leandro Trossard and Jorginho for a combined $48.8million. Fast forward five months and both players have made a name for themselves in Arteta's side this season.
This summer, Arsenal can expect to be in a similar position with Declan Rice - or any of their targets. Clubs are aware of the Gunners' desire to continue their upwards trajectory under Arteta and they won't allow their best assets to leave for anything short of what they deem to be an appropriate fee.
With reports insisting Rice will cost around £120m, Arsenal must make sure they have a plan B, plan C and even a plan D. It is important this summer does not go wrong in terms of recruitment
If Rice proves to be too expensive for Stan Kroenke and Arsenal, who is going to be the summer's Trossard and Jorginho?
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