Wenger To Splash £70m On 5 New Players After Signing Contract Extension

As we approach the business end of the season clubs are starting to make plans for the summer transfer market so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip. Today, Gooner Mac brings us news on Arsene Wenger’s summer transfer plans.

Arsene Wenger has decided to sign a new contract extension at Arsenal and wants to buy five players after being handed at least £70m to spend this summer, according to the Mirror.

The long-serving Frenchman’s current deal expires at the end of June and there has been intense speculation suggesting he might decide to walk away after seeing the club go from leading the Premier League in February, to once again battling for fourth place.

However, it seems that Arsene has seen enough in recent weeks to convince him he’s still the man for the job with Mirror journalist John Cross claiming the 64-year-old has decided to extend his stay at the Emirates by another two years and will officially pen the new deal AFTER next months FA Cup Final, when he hopes to have ended our much-talked about trophy drought.

Obviously the timing will be perfect if we do end up beating Hull at Wembley as the ‘Arsene Out Brigade’ will have less ammunition to throw his way, but things could get ugly if Steve Bruce’s men pull off a shock.

Hopefully it won’t come to that as Cross believes Arsene is finally planning to spend big and has targetted five signings after being told he has at least £70m to spend this summer, with a goalkeeper, right back, central midfielder, winger and big-name striker all on his hit-list.

Among the targets suggested by the Mirror are Mario Mandzukic – who could be available when Robert Lewandowski joins Bayern Munich this summer – and Real Sociedad’s Antoine Griezmann, who is a pacey winger that can also play through the middle and has an eye for goal.

A right-back will only be needed if Bacary Sagna leaves and with contract extension talks still proving fruitless, understandably the boss is drawing up a list of possible replacements and the report suggests that Southampton’s Calum Chambers is among those being considered.

Lukasz Fabianski is leaving when his contract expires in June so we’ll need to bring in competition for Wojciech Szczesny in goal, while a long-term replacement for Mikel Arteta is also required and I hope Arsene goes for a powerful, athletic, ball-winner who can bring a physical presence to the middle of the park.

A player who certainly doesn’t fit that bill is Tom Cleverley, but amusingly John Cross states that we are keeping ‘close tabs’ on the much-ridiculed Manchester United midfielder. I think the less said about that, the better.

MORE –> Arsenal set to miss out on defender

It’s gearing up to be an interesting summer and it looks like it should be a busy one in the transfer market for Arsenal, and I just hope the club tries to get their business done early and not leave it until the last minute again.

What players would you like to see Arsenal sign this summer? Are you happy Wenger will stay? Share your views below.