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Wenger targets £40m attacker as part of big-money double swoop

By mac14 on May 31, 2017

According to a report in The Sun, Arsene Wenger plans to begin his new era at the club by signing two high-profile names this summer with Riyad Mahrez among his targets.

Wenger ended speculation over his future by penning a new two-year extension earlier today and is now expected to oversee an overhaul of the squad in order to make us genuine challengers next year.

While there will no doubt be plenty of changes to the playing staff over the coming weeks, The Sun claims that Wenger plans to sign two marquee players as well as persuade Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil to stay at the club.

The newspaper says that Mahrez remains a prime target and that Wenger is ready to enter the bidding for the attacker after he handed in a written transfer request to Leicester City yesterday.

We were strongly linked with a move for Mahrez last summer after he scored 18 goals to help the Foxes win a shock Premier League title and it seems Arsene is now ready to renew his interest.

The Algerian international struggled to replicate the kind of form last season that saw him win the PFA Player of the Year Award in 2016 but he did still showcase his talents in the Champions League.

Despite his indifferent form, The Sun claim Leicester are still demanding £40m for Mahrez’s signature which is the same price we were reportedly willing to pay last summer.

We’ll have to wait and see whether Wenger is prepared to pay that kind of money again but at 26, Mahrez still has his best years ahead of him so I think he’d be an excellent addition to the squad.

READ: Arsenal agree deal to sign 24-goal striker

He’s also got plenty of Premier League experience under his belt so won’t need much time to settle but I do worry that he may be reluctant to join us without Champions League football being on offer.

Mahrez got a taste of playing in Europe’s elite competition last season and no doubt he wants to be playing in it again next year so I fear he may go elsewhere is they can offer him Champions League football.