Arsenal round-up: Draxler update; Seri set for Barcelona; Wenger discusses transfers

Add as preferred source on Google

Arsenal still need additions if they are to challenge for the Premier League title and one player that continues to be linked is PSG attacker Julian Draxler. The Mirror report that the Gunners are ready to compete with Manchester United and Liverpool to sign the German. The 23-year-old has been put up for sale and could be allowed to leave for £32 million. A Premier League move is a real possibility before the end of the window.

The Gunners lacked ideas in the final third against Stoke City and it is clearly an area they need to strengthen. They have several good attacking options, but they need to increase the quality if they are to be a serious title contender. Draxler has a lot of talent and would represent an upgrade on their current options. For the price that is rumoured, it is surely a no-brainer for Arsene Wenger.

Another player that has been heavily linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium is Jean Michael Seri. However, Mundo Deportivo report that the midfielder is closing in on a move to Barcelona. Arsenal had been reluctant to pay the €40 million release clause in the Nice player’s contract, but Los Cules are prepared to meet it and a move to the Nou Camp is looking increasingly likely.

This is a huge blow to Arsenal as Seri did look like the perfect player to add drive to their midfield. It is a position that the club need to strengthen and there are few that would be attainable in this window. The 26-year-old is one of them and the Gunners have decided against making a major play for him. It could be that the speculation was unfounded and the club weren’t interested, but that seems unlikely given Wenger’s knowledge of Ligue 1.

Arsene Wenger has kept his cards close to his chest when it comes to recruitment this summer, but his latest quotes will be concerning for Arsenal supporters. It has appeared that he needed to sell players before any new signings arrive and the following quotes reported by Sky Sports confirm that is the case:

“I expect to sell players first. That’s all. I expect players to go because we have too many players.

“It’s not manageable and many clubs are in this situation – that’s why the transfer market is quiet. We have 33 players at the moment and that’s too many.”

It is clear that Arsenal need a couple of new signings before the window shuts, but these quotes will worry supporters, as it might not be possible to bring anybody in. There are a number of players that need to be moved on and although there has been interest, the finances have put buying clubs off. The Gunners may need to lower their demands if they want to get rid of those that are surplus to requirements.