6 potential bargain transfers for Arsenal in 2022 window

There is a gap in domestic football action, which of course means that the focus is shifting towards transfers in summer 2022. Arsenal know what they need, they just need to go out and get it.

One sticking point for them is the final ten games of the season. Where Arsenal end up come matchday 38 will have an undoubted impact on what the club can hope to achieve in the market.

Finishing in the Champions League will not only bring in valuable additional revenue, it will also help convince the best talent across the continent to make the move to north London. Every player wants to play in the elite European competitions. Its pull is tremendous.

As for positions, those Arsenal are after are no secret.

6 potential bargain summer transfers for Arsenal to look at in the 2022 summer window as Mikel Arteta eyes reinforcements

In defence it is likely that a new right-back is sourced, one who can add depth and provide competition for Takehiro Tomiyasu. Cedric may well stay if his performances continue in their current vein, although a change is still on the cards.

The left-sided No. 8 slot is one that fans are excited about. Granit Xhaka is performing admirably in the position, but there is definite scope to improve in that department. With other midfielders due to depart there may be other reinforcements elsewhere in the centre of the park, too.

Striker is, however, the standout. But when it comes to bargain options, they are few and far between. In the search for elite centre-forward talent Arsenal will have to cough up the dough.

Looking across Europe there are a few options out there who won’t break the bank, and who could certainly do a job for Mikel Arteta’s side in their desired positions.

Nordi Mukiele – RB Leipzig

Age: 24
Position: Right-back
Contract expiry: 2023

The right-back situation might be one that Arsenal shelve for a while, with Arteta’s faith in Cedric being rewarded with some much improved performances across the last handful of league fixtures. He’s filled in for Tomiyasu more comfortably than expected.

He is also knocking on a bit, though, and we want Kia Joorabchian far away from Arsenal.

What Tomiyasu provides in the right-back slot is aerial presence and physicality, something that RB Leipzig’s Nordi Mukiele knows a thing or two about.

The tall Frenchman is outstanding in aerial and ground duels, can play across numerous positions – albeit primarily as a right wing-back – and ranks highly in all attacking metrics.

Schooled in the Red Bull system, his energy off the ball is relentless and where he positions himself both in attacking and defensive transitions is intelligent and proactive.

There is some work to do with his ball retention and his dribbling isn’t the cleanest, yet with a contract expiring in 2023 and no signs of a new deal on the horizon, they are areas to work on for what would be an undoubted bargain.

Continued on next page…

Noussair Mazraoui – Ajax

Age: 24
Position: Right-back
Contract expiry: 2022

How much more of a bargain can you get than free of charge? (excluding all the extras, that is)

Someone who has been on Europe’s radar for quite some time is Noussair Mazraoui, whose deal at Ajax is due to expire in the coming summer.

Some reports in Spain claim that Barça have won the race for his signature, beating off competition from Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund, Leeds and AC Milan, although nothing appears to be finalised yet and there is plenty of time for further negotiations.

As for his ability it’s not as easy as looking at his underlying metrics since the unavoidable Eredivisie tax has to be applied. Playing for the best side in the Netherlands against plenty of weaker opposition means his numbers can be misleading.

The 24-year-old is an outstanding right-back though, with his tackling ability and creativity in the final third helping to make him one of the more exciting and well-rounded in his position across the continent. Arsenal have been keen in the past and when a free transfer pokes its head out it would be rude not to take a closer look.

Continued on next page…

Boubacar Kamara – Marseille

Age: 22
Position: Defensive midfielder
Contract expiry: 2022

Another player who is set to walk away from his club for free in the summer, there are countless Premier League eyes keeping track of Boubacar Kamara this year as he prepares to depart Marseille.

The holding midfielder has already installed himself as a valuable member of the starting lineup, whether that be in midfield or occasionally at centre-back, during which time he’s amassed a large following of admirers.

By no means an expansive No. 6, Kamara is someone who likes the play in front of him at all times and the ball not too far away either. He is always heavily involved in the build-up and the setting of the tempo, with his shoulders home to an immensely calm and collected head.

With Arsenal due to bid farewell to Elneny, a more traditional No. 6 without much attacking intent, the arrival of a more progressive, ball winning defensive midfielder who excels in a 4-3-3 adds some variety to the options, especially if Sambi gets tried out slightly further forward.

A press-resistant option with razor sharp accuracy and a nice zip to his passes, Kamara has a big future ahead of him, wherever he may end up.

Was it mentioned that he’s free, too?

Continued on next page…

Houssem Aouar – Lyon

Age: 24
Position: Attacking midfield
Contract expiry: 2023

He still exists! Importantly, he’s still very good. And, fortunately, he’s available on a bargain.

With the way Arteta has developed his side over the course of the past four months, it’s now never been more suited to having Houssem Aouar involved. The Frenchman isn’t a double pivot player, nor is he best utilised as a wide-left attacking midfielder, as his skillset is perfectly aligned with that of a left-sided No. 8.

Now into the final 18 months of his contract, Aouar will be available for a cut-price fee in the summer, one that would feel extra special to Arsenal having been held to ransom for €50m during that memorable window.

How has he been since then? It is consistency that hasn’t been Aouar’s best strength throughout his career, with him only having one league assist or goal since October last year, while the question marks remain over his mentality with off-field matters setting off a few alarm bells.

But he’s still a player with tremendous ability, someone who can carry, thread a pass, play in tight spaces and is clever off the ball, and with a new deal unlikely to be penned by him the price might be too good for Arteta to turn down.

Having ‘loved’ the player before, there might still be some emotional attachment lingering.

Continued on next page…

Fabian Ruiz – Napoli

Age: 24
Position: No.8/Central midfielder
Contract expiry: 2023

A name fans have been hearing a lot about in recent months, and for all the right reasons.

Fabian Ruiz is having a superb season for Napoli where he’s playing in the exact position that Arsenal are looking to fill. Just off the left to a No. 6 he is coming to life in Serie A with his excellent displays contributing to Luciano Spalletti’s side being firmly in the hunt for the title.

Much more of a No. 8 these days than the double pivot player he used to be deployed as, it’s bringing out a goalscoring threat in him while keeping him in positions where he can progress the ball and use lightening quick vision to pick out pace in front.

Elegant on the ball and intuitive off it, the only complaints about his profile are that he isn’t the quickest or the most mobile. But these are only larger concerns if they’re made out to be. Kieran Tierney, in his more recent guise, sitting that bit deeper to deal in defensive transitions can make up for this.

Worth noting, too, is that Arsenal have been performing as well as they have with Xhaka in the position, someone who can’t carry the ball like Ruiz and runs with cement in his boots most of the time.

The main problem for Arsenal is the competition. With Ruiz’s deal expiring in the summer of 2023 there will be streams of clubs lining to snatch him, with a move back to his native Spain possibly too good to turn down.

He’s a player in fine form, though, and in a young team like this will be a fine addition as he enters his peak years.

Continued on next page…

Paulo Dybala – Juventus

Age: 28
Position: Second striker
Contract expiry: 2022

Juventus – the b*stards who snatched Dusan Vlahovic in the winter – are about to lose one of their most influential players for free.

Multiple reports have revealed that Paulo Dybala will depart the Italian club in the summer when his deal expires, prompting a rather large scramble to convince him of his next destination.

The Argentine has 113 goals in 283 appearance for The Old Lady, including 13 in 29 outings this term, and while he is 28 years old and older than every other striker target Arsenal have their sights on, his comfort playing as a second striker is in line with what the Gunners are looking for.

In some ways, yes. In others, less so.

Diminutive and feisty, if Arsenal want an aggressive centre-forward who can dominate the duels then he won’t be the guy for them. What he produces in this Juventus team has to be replicated in the Premier League, and there are big questions marks over that, as well as his injury record.

The Dybala that is is different to the Dybala that was. His aforementioned injury record isn’t great, his wages would be astronomical. So, while he’s a bargain of a transfer fee, the rest…less so.

Will Arsenal look into him? They might do, but it’s a move to steer clear of and doesn’t aligns with the strategy.