Quantcast

Arsenal eye moves to sign £41m duo as Arteta kick starts summer overhaul

By on June 17, 2021

According to reports, Arsenal are showing a keen interest in Porto right-back Jesus Corona and have identified Aaron Ramsdale as a goalkeeping target this summer.

Mikel Arteta and technical director Edu are going to be extremely busy over the next few weeks as a huge amount of transfer business is expected to be conducted at the Emirates Stadium.

After finishing eighth and missing out on Europe for the first time in 25 years, Arteta knows he needs to overhaul his squad with the likes of Granit Xhaka, Hector Bellerin, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Matteo Guendouzi, Lucas Torreira and Joe Willock all expected to leave.

With Bellerin set to end his long association with Arsenal, Arteta is in the market for a new right-back and the Daily Mail claims we’re showing an interest in signing Porto star Jesus Corona.

The 28-year-old has one year left on his deal at Porto but the newspaper says his contract includes a release clause worth £21.4m which is active until mid-July, so Arsenal will have to act fast if we want to trigger it.

Corona can play at right-back or in a more attacking role down the right flank so his versatility would be a useful asset and he provided 3 goals and 13 assists in 48 games last season, so he’d certainly be a threat going forward.

He could be a solid addition to the squad but the Mail says Arsenal will face competition from Sevilla and Fiorentina and I personally think the £21m would be better spent elsewhere on a younger right-back with more potential.

Ramsdale a target

Arsenal are also in the market for at least one goalkeeper as Mat Ryan has returned to Brighton following his loan spell while Bernd Leno’s future has been the subject of speculation in recent weeks.

According to Goal, Arsenal are showing an interest in signing Sheffield United goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale but the Blades have slapped a £20m price-tag on his head so he won’t come cheap.

The 23-year-old has been called up to the England squad as a replacement for the injured Dean Henderson and he did earn plaudits for some of his performances for Sheffield United last season.

However, Ramsdale conceded 63 goals in his 38 appearances as the Blades were relegated to the Championship having finished bottom of the Premier League and I wasn’t particularly impressed by him at all.

I guess he’d be a decent enough back-up for Leno but no chance should Ramsdale be No.1 at Arsenal next season should the German international leave this summer.

Based on these reports, it would cost Arsenal around £41m to buy Corona and Ramsdale but I’d be hugely disappointed if the club spent that kind of money on two players who I fear wouldn’t improve our first team.

There is more value to be had on better players in this market, so I hope these are just rumours and Arsenal have other targets in mind for the goalkeeping and right-back positions.

One Comment