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Napoli trio on Arsenal’s wish-list as Mislintat plots summer overhaul

By on March 14, 2018

The season is entering the final stretch so Arsenal are already starting to put their summer transfer plans in to action and the Mirror have revealed a number of our targets.

The newspaper says Head of Recruitment Sven Mislintat has been asked with signing a new goalkeeper, at least one new defender and a defensive midfielder this summer.

I think it’s safe to say we need a dominant centre-back as Shkodran Mustafi has been woeful at times this season while Laurent Koscielny hasn’t looked himself as he battles a long-term Achilles problem.

The Mirror claim that Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly is on our wish-list with scouts sent to watch the Senegal international throughout the campaign.

Koulibaly has been one of the best central defenders in Italy since joining Napoli and he’s played a key role in their title challenge this season as they battle it out with Juventus at the top of the table.

The 6ft 5in defender is an absolute beast but he’s also not slow on the ground and is decent with the ball at his fee so he’d be a superb signing if Arsenal could pull it off.

However, we’ll face plenty of competition for his signature if the 26-year-old decides to seek a fresh challenge and we’ll find it difficult to attract him if we can’t offer Champions League football.

I’ve said all season we desperately need to sign a holding midfielder this summer and the Mirror claims that Napoli star Jorginho is on Mislintat’s radar.

The Italian international has been a key figure for Napoli this season as he’s protected the defence and instigated attacks from deep in midfield so he could be just the answer to our problems.

However, once again, we aren’t the only club in the running with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United also reportedly keen if the 26-year-old heads to the Premier League.

It looks like Arsenal are eyeing a potential triple swoop on Napoli as the Mirror claim that full-back Faouzi Ghoulam has also attracted interest from north London.

We’ve been linked with the Algeria international for some time and he’s been a huge success since moving to Naples from St-Etienne in 2014.

Nacho Monreal is approaching the final years of his career and Sead Kolasinac has endured a mixed season since joining from Schalke last summer so we need a long-term solution at left-back.

Ghoulam would be an exciting addition but the newspaper says we’re also keeping track of Fulham starlet Ryan Sessegnon in-case Napoli refuse to do business this summer.

On the goalkeeping front, it’s obvious we need to replace Petr Cech and the Mirror suggests that Jan Oblak and Jack Butland are the top targets but we’ll face stiff competition as well as hefty price-tags for both players.

It sounds like it’s going to be another hectic summer at the Emirates but I think the priority should be resolving the managerial situation as it’s time for change and no doubt any new manager will have his own list of transfer targets in mind.