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Wenger Targets Benzema, Di Maria, Richards, Kondogbia & Guaita

By on August 23, 2013

It sounds like it’s going to be a hectic few days at Highbury House with Arsene Wenger finally ready to spend the clubs reported £80m ‘warchest’, according to reports today.

We brought you news last night that Mathieu Flamini is set to sign on a free transfer and the utility man will act as cover in midfield as we as at right back, and his signature – which could possibly go through today – will kick start 10 days of spending.

The Mirror are one of several newspapers who are reporting that the boss has a long list of targets including Karim Benzema, Angel Di Maria, Geoffrey Kondogbia, Vicente Guaita, Yohan Cabaye and Micah Richards.

Wenger’s priority is to sign a world class striker and he’s now seemingly set his sights on Benzema but their are conflicting reports over his availability. The Telegraph suggest Madrid are keen to do business to raise funds for their own move for Luis Suarez but the Mirror are less confident a deal can be done as they feel Real are hoping to extend the 25-year-old’s contract.

They do claim that the Spaniard’s are willing to sell Di Maria though, with the Argentinean international understood to be available for £25m. However, any move for the 25-year-old would be determined by the future of Lukas Podolski, with the German attracting interest from Wolfsburg, Borussia Dortmund and Turkey’s Galatasaray. If we could recoup the £11m we spent on him last summer, apparently we may then move for Di Maria.

Also said to be a priority for the boss is a new goalkeeper and while he’s had Stoke’s Asmir Begovic extensively scouted, Valencia’s Guaita appears to be his top target. We’ve already seen a £6m rejected with the Spaniard’s holding out for nearer £12m but a deal could be done somewhere in the middle.

As well as Flamini, the Mirror claim Wenger will still try and buy another midfielder with Cabaye and Kondogbia his top targets. A renewed bid for Cabaye is expected to go in after our opening £10m bid was rebuffed, while we face stiff competition from Monaco for Kondogbia. Sevilla appear resigned to selling the powerful 20-year-old and have lined up QPR Stephen M’Bia as a replacement.

Apparently strengthening the defence will become less of a priority once Flamini is re-signed as the Frenchman will be able to cover at right back allowing Bacary Sagna to play in the middle if needed. Should Wenger decide to bring in another defender though, he’s interested in Manchester City’s Micah Richard’s – who would be expected to cost around £10m.

Obviously we’re not going to be able to sign ALL these players, but I think at least 3 is a reasonable expectation. Personally, I feel we need at least 4, if not 5, to put together a title-challenging squad.

Ideally, I’d like to see Begovic, Richards, Kondogbia, Di Maria and Benzema sign, as well as Flamini on a free. I know, I’m in dream land here, but that’s what it will take for us to be a really competitive team this year. I’m sure we could afford that lot, especially if we sold Podolski for £11m.

Let’s see what the boss brings us, hopefully we’ll start seeing some moves over the next few days.

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