Arsenal is gearing up for another eventful summer, with Mikel Arteta reportedly eager to sign one of Europe’s top-rated defenders. The focus for the Gunners is on quality over quantity.
After narrowly missing out on the Premier League title to Manchester City for the second consecutive year, Arsenal is determined to close the gap next season. To achieve this, they need players who can either start or seriously challenge the current key players.
According to reports from Portugal, Arteta has his sights set on one of Benfica’s top stars, Antonio Silva. The Correio da Manha reports that Arteta wants Silva, who is considered one of the best defenders in Portugal. Benfica has stated that Silva will cost at least 100 million Euros, or around £85 million, which is believed to be his release clause.
Arteta aims to increase competition in defense, putting pressure on Gabriel and William Saliba. Despite having the best defense in England this past season, conceding less than 30 league goals, Arsenal is looking to improve further. Silva, also a target for Liverpool, is highly regarded.
Drawing inspiration from Pep Guardiola’s strategy at Manchester City, where central defense has been significantly strengthened with players like John Stones, Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias, and Nathan Ake, Arsenal could be following a similar path if they invest £85 million in a new defender.
How this potential addition will affect the dynamics with Saliba and Gabriel is yet to be seen, but Arteta is likely prepared to make bold decisions this summer.
