- Confirmed line-ups: Chelsea vs Arsenal – Odegaard and Rice start for Gunners
- Arsenal predicted line-up against Chelsea
- Arsenal register interest in signing Como star Nico Paz
- Arsenal make contact to sign Lille star Jonathan David
- Arsenal keen on signing Newcastle star Alexander Isak
- Arsenal ‘interested’ in signing Bayern Munich star Sane
- Arsenal showing ‘strong interest’ in signing Hugo Larsson
- Confirmed line-ups: Inter Milan vs Arsenal – Odegaard returns, Merino starts
- Arsenal predicted line-up against Inter Milan
- Arsenal eye move to sign Eintracht Frankfurt star Larsson
Arsenal told they can sign 6ft 5in beast in £35m deal as Emery eyes double swoop
According to the Express, Sevilla director of football Joaquin Caparros has made it clear Arsenal can only sign Steven N’Zonzi this summer if we meet the midfielders £35m release clause.
Unai Emery is gearing-up for a busy summer as he looks to revamp the squad left behind by Arsene Wenger and we’re expected to sign at least one new central midfielder.
Santi Cazorla has left the club to rejoin Villarreal, Jack Wilshere is set to follow him out the exit door after failing to agree terms over a new deal while the future of Aaron Ramsey is also in doubt.
Emery reportedly wants to add a physical presence to the middle of the park and speculation in recent days has linked us with a move for Sevilla’s 6ft 5in beast, Steven N’Zonzi.
Our new head coach knows N’Zonzi well from their time together at Sevilla where they won the Europa League and it seems Emery is now keen on being reunited in north London.
The Express says Arsenal have now been told what it will take to sign the 29-year-old after Sevilla’s director of football Joaquin Caparros confirmed they will be forced to sell if we meet N’Zonzi’s £35m release clause.
Caparros is quoted as saying by the Express:
“Is that a rumour or is it true?” Has Unai Emery called you?
“Well, as a successful man, Unai Emery knows what line the club keeps.
“If he wants N’Zonzi, he will have to call and put the bid in. And the bid is the clause.
“If you put that bid in, then there are no more negotiations [over the fee].”
N’Zonzi would certainly add a physical presence to our midfield and he has experience in the Premier League having played for Stoke and Blackburn but £35m is a lot for a player who’s approaching 30.
MORE: Arsenal looking to spend over £52m on triple swoop
Emery reportedly has a transfer budget of around £50m-£70m and the Express says he’s eyeing a £16m swoop for Borussia Dortmund centre-back Sokratis Papastathopoulos having already snapped up Stephan Lichtsteiner on a free transfer today.
So the majority of our budget would be blown if we pulled off a double swoop for N’Zonzi and Papastathopoulos and it wouldn’t leave much left over to strengthen other areas of the squad.
Pingback: Arsenal express interest in signing £18m Spaniard as Emery continues overhaul | Arsenal Station | Arsenal FC News