With an unyielding ambition to topple Manchester City from their Premier League throne, Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta is engaging in a tireless maneuver in the transfer market. As the club checks off completed deals, its gaze remains fixed on new targets: world-class defenders Joao Cancelo and Aymeric Laporte, with Jurrien Timber headlining the priority list.
The Gunners, having locked down Chelsea’s Kai Havertz and approaching agreements with Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber, are also poised to extend contracts for William Saliba and Reiss Nelson. But Arteta’s plans are far from over, reports GIVEMESPORT. The north London club has now set its sight on Manchester City’s Joao Cancelo, a move set to materialize once the deals for Timber and Rice reach completion.
Cancelo, who spent the latter half of the recent season on loan at Bayern Munich, is expected to leave Manchester City after an unenthusiastic return. However, his potential move to Arsenal is not seen as a coup but rather a congenial transaction, given Arteta’s amicable ties with Pep Guardiola.
“The ambition from the club is remarkable. In this transfer window, they are beating Man City at their own game,” GIVEMESPORT added.
As Arsenal keeps tabs on Cancelo, another Man City defender, Aymeric Laporte, is reportedly on their radar. Laporte, whose limited 11 league starts last season were largely due to a knee injury, is likely to depart from the Etihad Stadium this summer.
With his powerful left foot and strong aerial abilities, Guardiola once described Laporte as “the best left-center back in the world when he’s fit.” Now, it seems Arsenal might reap the benefits of this appraisal.
According to Mundo Deportivo, competition for Laporte’s signature includes Juventus, Tottenham, and Aston Villa, although the player himself reportedly prefers a return to Spain. Given Arsenal’s previous acquisitions from Man City, such as Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko, Laporte might fit well in Arteta’s blueprint.
As Arsenal’s transfer saga continues, Jurrien Timber remains at the center. Following that, the next moves for Cancelo and Laporte will unfold, thus shaping Arteta’s grand plan for an invigorated Arsenal in the upcoming season.
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