Arsenal's Rebuild: from a logical perspective

Arsenal’s plans for this transfer window have my confusion growing with each passing day. I honestly haven’t got a clue at what they are trying to do. This is what I would do to rebuild the Gunners.

The figures I will be using for this post might not be accurate, they are just my estimations based on what else I’ve seen happening in the market.

Budget: Funds raised from sales

The Kroenke’s won’t put their hands in their own pockets. Don’t hold out hope. It’s obvious now. The words “get excited for a big summer window” mean nothing.

Arsenal have no European football this season. This leaves us with an opportunity to cut down the large squad we have, raising some funds.

OUTS: Ainsley Maitland-Niles - 15m

Just doesn’t get enough game time. He wants to play in midfield but we just do not give him that opportunity. Get some value for him while we can.

David Luiz – free

Was a good presence at the club. If he wants to go, then it is what it is.

Pablo Mari - 10m

Was good throughout the season, but we don’t need 4 back-up CBs.

Konstantinos Mavropanos – Loan (Stuttgart)

Keep him in Germany – he has been playing well so far.

Hector Bellerin – 25m

He wants to go. He has been a loyal servant.

Matteo Guendouzi – 13m

His deal to Marseille is practically done. Great talent, poor attitude.

Granit Xhaka – 17m

Served the club well, through the ups and downs. Just waiting for the confirmation from Roma.

Lucas Torreira – 10m

Has made it clear he wants to go. Let him go.

Reiss Nelson – Loan with option to buy

Doesn’t get minutes in a red shirt. Loan him out somewhere. See what becomes of him when he gets some proper playing time. If the club choose to keep him, then so be it.

Willian – free

I would say 5m but realistically there have been much better players that have been let go for nothing before.

Pierre-Emrick Aubameyang – 35m

Turned down Barcelona to stay. Won the Golden Boot. Gave it his all. A shame it didn’t turn out better in the end. However, he is 32 years old - a rebuild is a rebuild. It has to be done.

Alexandre Lacazette – 40m

This was a tough one. Definitely. Even in a bleak season he was the 10th highest scorer in the Premier League, the highest in the club. Funds must be raised however, and players must be sold.

Now I know that it is highly unlikely that all of these players are sold. If we manage to do it somehow, we have 165m raised.

£165m overall.

INS:

Andre Onana – 7m

I’m not fully sure why, exactly, but it seems that Arsenal are pretty keen on getting this one done. Sign Ryan (5m)

Max Aarons – 35m

We need another RB, and this lad is absolutely class. Get him in ASAP.

Cheaper option: Mehmet Celik (15m)

Ryan Bertrand – 8m

Back-up LB in case Tierney gets injured again.

Cheaper option: Play Cedric (free)

William Saliba – call back

Bring him back from loan. He has been brilliant for Nice and deserves to play. The cheapest possible option for a class CB.

Yves Bissouma – 25m + Nketiah

I have a feeling that this is the simplest deal yet it won’t get done. Bissouma has openly admitted he wants to go to Arsenal. He has rejected other clubs. Pepe has already introduced him to London life. Brighton want Nketiah. This deal alone sets the tone for the season. We need a deep-lying midfielder. This will tell us how serious the club is about success.

Cheaper option: Marcel Sabitzer (15m)

Martin Odegaard – 50m

The media made it out as if the fee for keeping Odegaard was 100m… it’s only 50. I thought that we could just keep Smith-Rowe but if we want a CAM we go for Odegaard.

Cheaper option: Play Smith-Rowe

Odsonne Edouard – 20m

I’ve been wanting him since last year. Strong, physical, tall, clinical… everything we need. A great target man for a perfect price.

Cheaper alternative: Play Martinelli (Cedric)

That is £145m spent. Well spent. Including Odegaard. That leaves us with £20m profit. Surely that is enough money to satisfy the Kroenke’s. Surely.

In all honesty, I don’t know what will happen. I just pray it’s good.

What changes would you like to see?