Football journalist David Ornstein has shed some light on what potential transfer business Arsenal could look to do in the future.
This comes after Ornstein recently starred in the latest edition of Ask Ornstein from The Athletic’s Tifo Podcast YouTube channel where he answered a number of questions concerning the Premier League.
One question that came up in the video surrounded any potential player departures from Arsenal either in the upcoming January transfer window or next summer.
In response, Ornstein had this to say on the matter.
He said: “What I am hearing is that Arsenal are already well ahead in their planning for the window of summer 2021 and talks are taking place about potential recruits.
“That summer, of course, is when the likes of Mesut Ozil, Sokratis, [Shkodran] Mustafi, David Luiz are out of contract – and the sense I get is that they would be looking, understandably, to bring in a creative attacking-midfielder in that sort of number 10 role, but perhaps who could operate towards the right as well, because they’re fairly well-stocked on the left.”
Looking back to the previous summer transfer window, the north London club spent a total of £77.4 million on bringing in players such as Thomas Partey, Gabriel, Pablo Mari and Runar Runarsson on permanent deals, whilst also signing Cedric Soares and Willian on free transfers (per Transfermarkt).
In terms of potential departures at Arsenal in the summer, all the players that Ornstein mentioned in the video are out of contract at the end of June 2021 and could well be heading for the exit when that time comes.
So far in the Premier League this season, Mikel Arteta’s side have had a mixed bag of results, winning four and losing four of their first eight league games of the 2020/21 campaign.
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TIF Thoughts on David Ornstein’s comments on Arsenal’s potential transfer plans…
The fact that Ornstein revealed that Arsenal are already in talks about potential recruits into the club in the summer just goes to show that they are serious about bringing in some fresh faces when the summer window opens.
Given how Arsenal were heavily linked with a move for Olympique Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar throughout the previous transfer window, there’s every possibility that they could try again to sign the Frenchman next summer.
In our view, and taking into account what Ornstein said in the video, Arsenal fans can therefore expect a fair amount of transfer activity happening at the club in the summer.
Though considering a number of players are due to leave, that shouldn’t be too much of a surprise.