Arsenal have begun plans for next season as they are set to experience of the busiest summer. The Gunners will be losing the Aaron Ramsey to Juventus while the likes of Danny Welbeck and Mohamed Eleny are expected to leave.
According to reports yesterday also, Emery is looking to sell Henri Mkhitaryan and Mesut Ozil in order to free up the club’s wage bill. They believe they are close to appointing a new technical director, having missed out on Monchi after the Spaniard did a last minute U-turn to return to Sevilla.
Arsenal have already appointed Francis Cagigao and Steve Morrow from within but the new appointment will make up a new-look threesome. Sven Mislintat left in January after being passed over for the technical director role and the new appointment will oversee first team matters, the academy and report into the board on football affairs.
The first big job will be to look at the squad this summer with Arsenal briefing scouts and agents they want a new box-to-box midfielder and wide player to bolster the squad.
They are losing Aaron Ramsey on a free transfer to Juventus but the Wales international did not actually fit the profile that Unai Emery wanted which is to be a strong, aggressive midfielder to be at the “front of the press” to suit his playing style.
Emery loves Sevilla’s Argentinian midfielder Ever Banega but his age may count against him as he will be 31 this summer.
Arsenal also want a wide player as Danny Welbeck is out of contract and is in demand among other Premier League clubs as he battles back from a long term ankle injury.
However, Arsenal may have to sell players to fund this summer and Mirror Sport revealed this week Henrikh Mkhitaryan could be a casualty. They would like a new left back with Nacho Monreal on the way down but Sead Kolasinac has done well, although the other positions are likely to be the priority.
Arsenal would have more money to spend than the estimated £40m if they qualify for the Champions League places but even if they do they will not have fortunes and will have to be creative, sacrificing some players to bring in new faces.