Arsenal could come under serious pressure from a free-spending Manchester United if the latest reports are to be believed. A Qatari takeover of the Red Devils has become more likely in the last few hours according to information from the Middle East.
Qatari outlet Al-Watan, a publication owned by the Qatari banker's father, claim Sheikh Jassim has finally agreed a deal to buy Man United. An announcement is reportedly expected soon.
The news will not be a welcome one for Arsenal fans who have reason for concern considering the spending power it could bring to their old rivals. With that said, football.london takes a look at what we expect to happen following a takeover from the Qataris.
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Competition for transfer targets
The most immediate and likely challenge for the Gunners will be the competition in the transfer market. Manchester United have already beaten Arsenal to a notable target in the previous summer transfer window with Lisandro Martinez eventually being secured after a serious bidding process with Ajax that blew Edu Gaspar out of the water.
football.london understands that Declan Rice is the priority target for Arsenal in the summer and the England international will be courted by far more than the north London side. Chelsea have an interest and Man Utd have previously been credited with eyeing up the midfielder.
Should the takeover go through, suddenly what United could offer West Ham might see the Gunners ousted from any chance of competing for Rice’s signature. Of course, this assumes that the Arsenal ownership wouldn’t respond with their own substantial step up in investment.
Wage pressure
Arsenal have been able to build their new squad by amassing a group with a significant proportion of young players. The benefit of these starlets being accrued is not only their budding potential but the wage profile of the squad can be kept down.
Players like Mesut Ozil, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette have left in recent years to see the overall structure of player payment decrease. It is gradually on the rise with improved wages for Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli, with further discussions for William Saliba and Bukayo Saka underway.
United already have one of the highest wage bills in the league but additional investment from a potential takeover would almost certainly allow them to outmuscle the Gunners with lucrative player contracts for prospective targets.
Future title race competition
With more money, a football side typically sees more success. Although some clubs like Liverpool and Leicester City have been able to break this mould briefly, the serial title winners of the past decade and a half, Chelsea and Manchester City, have been the biggest spenders.
United have hardly been lacking in spending in the same timeframe but the additional resources are sure to only further their ability to climb the table and compete across multiple competitions.
Erik ten Hag looks like the best thing to come to the club prior to this potential investment, so if you combine the Dutchman’s ability with more funds, it could be a recipe Arsenal will need to take very seriously. The Gunners may be at the top and potentially even this season’s title winners, but the years to come might prove far more difficult.
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