It looks set to be a pivotal transfer window for Arsenal as Mikel Arteta prepares his squad for European competition following a season without extra games enabling them to focus on domestic matches.
Much of Arsenal's transfer business will hinge on whether they are playing in the Champions League or not - with a crucial game to decide that against Tottenham on Thursday night. A win against their North London rivals would secure Champions League football for the first time since the 2016/17 season and would help attract world-class talent to north London.
Here, we take a look at who could be on the Gunners' shopping list with a round-up of the day's transfer news:
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Sterling to reunite with Arteta?
One signing which would have been highly unrealistic a few years ago would have been Raheem Sterling making the move from Manchester City to Arsenal. However, with the Gunners potentially playing at the elite level of European competition next season, suddenly the possibilities appear to be opening up for world-class talent to arrive in North London.
The Telegraph, report that Sterling, 27, will be targeted by the Gunners and their manager Mikel Arteta, who worked with the winger at Manchester City, winning two Premier League titles together. Sterling grew up in Brent, North London and could well be tempted by a move south having spent the past ten years playing in the north, firstly for Liverpool and then Manchester City, where he has become a star.
Sterling himself revealed that he could be open to a move when speaking at the FT Business of Sport US Summit in October 2021, the winger said: “If there was the opportunity to go somewhere else, I would be open to it at this moment in time.”.
At that time, Sterling was out of favour with Pep Guardiola, but has since regained his place in the side, scoring 12 goals in 28 Premier League games this campaign. He is, however, one of many elite stars playing at City and could well be searching for a club where he could be the main man as he enters the prime of his career.
Arsenal learn Fabian Ruiz asking price
As well as a striker, Arsenal will know that the centre of midfield is a key area to strengthen in the coming months having struggled for many years to find a key player in that role. One man that could change that is Napoli's Fabian Ruiz, the left-footed playmaker has been priced at £34 million by club Napoli, with local outlet Napoli Piu reporting Arteta's interest in the star.
Ruiz has played for Spain on 15 occasions and has been an integral part of a Napoli side this season which has qualified for the Champions League after pushing AC Milan and Inter hard in the Serie A title race. At just 26 years of age, Ruiz could well be one of the better-valued midfielders on the market and will certainly be one to watch in the coming months.
