Arsenal: 3 necessary transfers that won’t be frees or swaps

Rumor has it that Arsenal will be focused on free and swap transfers this coming window, but here are three moves that can’t be achieved that way.

Arsenal has very specific needs this summer, and given how good the rumors were looking, it was only a matter of time before it all came crashing down. The Gunners were pulling ahead in numerous transfer sagas, but now, out of nowhere, there are rumors that this club will be looking solely at free and swap transfers.

Of course, because the club is magically broke again.

This isn’t the first time we’ve had to deal with talk of the club having no finances, despite it not making much sense, but this time it’s even stranger since Mikel Arteta has just taken over the club and he obviously needs some kind of investment to get his plan in action.

Maybe this doesn’t take into account sales, like that of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, but it’s still disturbing that there is actual talk that the Gunners won’t be able to spend any money and will instead have to sign a bunch of Willian’s.

The only good swap deal I’ve heard so far is trading out Aubameyang for Luka Jovic. Everything else sounds like an awful idea.

To compile on that, here are three prospective transfer options that we won’t be able to swap for or get for free.

3. Jonathan Tah

While he hasn’t been linked very heavily to a move to the Emirates, Tah represents every high profile centerback we may hope to sign because, as of yet, no one has emerged in a swap situation. Maybe there’s a future where we can swap Aubameyang for Umtiti, but that doesn’t quite make as much sense as swapping him for Jovic.

Jonathan Tah, same as Dayot Upamecano (if he hasn’t already committed to Bayern Munich), is a high profile centerback that the Gunners need. William Saliba is great and exciting, but getting someone proven and prolific would change this club for the long haul.

You can’t get that for free. You’d be really stressed to get that for a swap. On to No. 2.