Arsenal make £60m “superstar” a top target

Arsenal’s poster boy, Bukayo Saka, has signed a new five-year contract extension at the Emirates. The fact that his head has never once been shifted toward hounding suitors from England and abroad bears testament to the fine work Mikel Arteta has done at the club.

Saka, 23, is a leading Three Lions star and one of the most dangerous players in the Premier League, and his connection to Hale End has secured him as the definitive star of this glittering Gunners revival.

Arteta and technical director Andrea Berta plan to add even more English talent to their ranks, though, with sights set on one or two Premier League stars in 2026.

Arsenal want to add English talent in the market

Last year, Liverpool and Manchester City assumed positions as frontrunners in the race for Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi, but The Athletic’s David Ornstein has recently confirmed Arsenal are mulling over advancing their long-standing interest.

Though the struggles of Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Martinelli tell of a need for reinforcements in the attacking third, Arteta is rooted in his defensive principles, and he’s looking to add quality and depth at the back, especially after a spate of injuries this season.

But Guehi’s not the only Three Lions defender on the radar.

According to reports relayed by TEAMtalk, Arsenal are showing an interest in signing Tino Livramento from Newcastle United, potentially even lining up a move at the end of the season, with the full-back viewed as a top target for the Gunners.

Though it would be great to have the 23-year-old under Arteta’s wing for the latter half of the campaign, it’s unlikely that would come to pass, with Eddie Howe desperate to strengthen his up-and-down side.

Manchester City are also keen on the former Chelsea academy graduate, who would cost suitors at least £60m to pull away from St. James’ Park.

Why Livramento would be the perfect signing

Livramento has been on Arsenal’s radar for a while. Two-footed, endowed with formidable athletic qualities and as secure in defence as he is tenacious in attack, this is “one of the best defenders in Europe”, according to reporter Andy Sixsmith.

Through Jurrien Timber, we have already seen a willingness on Arteta’s part to play wide defenders across both flanks, and Livramento would dovetail right in there, having curiously played nine times as a right-back this year and eight times on the left.

Livramento’s athleticism and surety on the ball could see him become a star at Arsenal, and the certitude with which he conducts himself may even see him become an even better signing than Guehi.

Livramento simply has a knack for enhancing the overall tactical flow of his outfit. He is as dynamic as they come. Guehi is also a top defender, but Arsenal signed Cristhian Mosquera from Valencia last summer, and the young Spaniard impressed before picking up an injury.

Data-driven platform FBref have actually recorded, through statistical comparisons, Gabriel as being one of Guehi’s most comparable players in Europe, so while the desire to sign him is understandable, equally it’s hard to imagine him displacing the awe-inspiring Brazilian.

And William Saliba, while fated to move to Real Madrid at some stage, is going nowhere any time soon.

The former Southampton prospect covers plenty of ground, having made 5.2 ball recoveries on average in the Premier League this term, and would have the opportunity to nail down a starting berth for the prime years of his career.

For Guehi, that one might be a little less certain. After all, Arsenal arguably boast the finest central defensive partnership in the world.

Undoubtedly a “superstar” in the Premier League, according to Newcastle content creator Kendall Rowan, Livramento is only going to get better over the coming years, and while Guehi would be a fantastic addition, the Magpies’ ability to perform to an elite level across both defensive flanks underscores his potential to become a mainstay for a Premier League title-challenging club like Arsenal.