Arteta ready to smash Arsenal transfer budget to sign striker
Arsenal are believed to have at least £100 million ($132 million) at their disposal for new players.
Mikel Arteta is willing to break Arsenal's transfer budget in a bid to land a star striker to spearhead their Premier League title challenge next season.
Arteta's side have now gone five years without a trophy as they approach the end of a frustrating campaign marred by injuries to key forwards Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus.
ALSO READ: High expectations unfair on new Chelsea, says Maresca
That trio, as well as influential midfielder Martin Odegaard, all missed substantial chunks of the season as Arsenal failed to keep pace with Premier League champions Liverpool before losing the Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain.
A new striker is top of Arteta's wish-list with Havertz, who has not played for almost four months, still the club's top scorer in the league with just nine goals.
Arsenal are believed to have at least £100 million ($132 million) at their disposal for new players and have been linked with RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko, Sporting Lisbon's Viktor Gyokeres and Newcastle's Alexander Isak.
After failing to lure England striker Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa during the January transfer window, Arteta is willing to do whatever it takes to get a new striker in the summer.
'The thing is that the budget is like when you have your wedding, you plan your wedding with your wife and you give her a budget and never less, and it's always more,' Arteta told reporters on Friday.
'When you build a house it's always more. Normally this happens. And you prepare for different scenarios. Then unfortunate things happen. Sometimes we want a player and suddenly we have an injury or that player gets injured.
'There are so many variables that can happen but there is a budget. There is always an idea of what we can do, what we can improve, what the priorities are going to be and then let's see if we can do it.'
Amid speculation this week that Arteta and Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta, who replaced Edu in March, have disagreed over which striker to pursue, the manager insisted their relationship is fine.
'Well, if that happens, that means that we cannot explain ourselves well enough, and we are not clear enough on what we want, and I guarantee you that hasn't happened,' he said.
'It didn't happen in five and a half years with Edu, and I guarantee you it hasn't happened with Andrea.
'We have learned a lot and some of them (transfers) have worked really well and others have not. So we have to make sure that we make the right calls.
'But we are all human beings and unfortunately, nobody has got a crystal ball here.
'But Andrea is someone who is very driven, very clear in his ideas, in his vision and how we want to achieve it.'
Second-placed Arsenal, who host third-placed Newcastle on Sunday, head into the final two matches of the season needing just two points to be assured of Champions League qualification.
However, with their superior goal difference, one point should be enough for Arsenal to secure a top-five finish.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
34 minutes ago
- The South African
BREAKING: Kaizer Chiefs seal Asanele Velebayi deal!
By Jenna Solomon 20-06-25 18:07 Tomorrow is International Yoga Day. To celebrate, South Africans will be saluting the sun in cities across the country. By Siseko Gwegwe 20-06-25 17:41 Kaizer Chiefs are set to register a new young left back for the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season. It's time to meet Kabelo Nkgwesa. By Garrin Lambley 20-06-25 17:34 Proteas Test captain Temba Bavuma has been ruled out of the upcoming two-match Test series against Zimbabwe due to a left hamstring strain. By Siseko Gwegwe 20-06-25 17:25 Betway Premiership side Kaizer Chiefs have made an early return to Naturena. Amakhosi will travel to the Netherlands for preseason training. By Phumlani S Langa 20-06-25 17:09 Nomzamo Mbatha will host with Global Citizen NOW Summit in Sevilla, Spain. Worldwide financial reform will be foregrounded at the summit. By Garrin Lambley 20-06-25 16:28 Premier League giants Chelsea are reportedly leading the race to sign highly-rated 13-year-old South African prodigy Camden Schaper.
The South African
2 hours ago
- The South African
Chelsea lead race to sign 13-year-old South African wonderkid
Premier League giants Chelsea are reportedly leading the race to sign highly-rated 13-year-old South African prodigy Camden Schaper, currently on the books of Blackburn Rovers. Chelsea appear to have beaten off competition from several English heavyweights, including Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal, and Liverpool, all of whom had expressed interest in the talented teenager. Camden, who began his career with SuperSport United in South Africa, first grabbed national attention when he captained their U11 side on a tour of Spain in 2021. The youngster's technical prowess and leadership qualities turned heads, with Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon reportedly monitoring his development at the time. Now based in the UK with his family, the Benoni-born midfielder has been impressing at youth level for Blackburn, reportedly earning a £700 000 (R17 million) valuation. Manchester City were thought to be favourites to secure Camden's signature, particularly since his younger brother Astin Schaper is already in their academy. However, Chelsea have now emerged as frontrunners, with reports indicating that the deal is all but done. Camden came close to joining Manchester United in 2020, but Covid-19-related restrictions and foreign transfer regulations put the move on ice. Should the move to Chelsea materialise, Camden would join a growing list of South African youngsters making waves in England, including: Thorsten Brits – Goalkeeper, Manchester City – Goalkeeper, Manchester City Samuel Archer – Goalkeeper, Tottenham Hotspur – Goalkeeper, Tottenham Hotspur Elyh Harrison – Goalkeeper, Manchester United (recently featured on the bench for the first team) Chelsea have not yet officially confirmed the deal. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
3 hours ago
- The Citizen
Lorch living large: Viral Man City clash, R10m market value, LV flex and more
SA soccer star Thembinkosi Lorch's flair on the pitch is matched only by his luxurious lifestyle. Take a look... Thembinkosi Lorch on fire for Wydad AC against Manchester City on Wednesday and making an off-pitch fashion statement in Louis Vuitton. Pictures: Gallo Images and Instagram/ thembinkosi_lorch_3 Footballer Thembinkosi 'Nyoso' Lorch trended for all the right reasons this week following his standout performance for Wydad Casablanca in their Fifa Club World Cup opener against Manchester City in Washington DC. The social media streets were lit with high praise for the 31-year-old attacking midfielder's brilliance despite his team's 2-0 defeat against the Premier League giants on Wednesday. WATCH: Thembinkosi Lorch vs Man City The in form Lorch, who is currently on loan from Mamelodi Sundowns to the Moroccan club, reminded everyone why he earned the nickname SMS 'Shake My Soul' and inspired the Scorpion Kings' tribute jam Lorch. Thembinkosi Lorch: Life of luxury Lorch's flair on the pitch is matched by his luxurious lifestyle. From high-end cars to designer outfits and exotic vacations, Lorch's wealth and success are evident in every aspect of his life. The Citizen took a look at his salary, net worth, luxurious assets and the glamorous world he inhabits. Salary and net worth Lorch's financial success is a testament to his prowess on the field. While at Orlando Pirates, his monthly salary was estimated to range between R130 000 and R165,000 000. Though some reports – as per Briefly News – from a 2023 court hearing suggested a lower base salary of R50 000 due to deductions like child support. After his move to Mamelodi Sundowns in 2024, his earnings reportedly surged to R450,000 000 per month, reflecting his value in the Premier Soccer League (PSL). His current salary at Wydad Athletic Club remains undisclosed but is likely comparable, given his high-profile loan move. Net worth: A growing fortune Lorch's net worth is estimated to be around $5 million (approximately R85 million) in 2025, bolstered by his football contracts, endorsements with brands like Puma and other ventures. His market value, as reported by Transfermarkt, stands at €500 000 (about R10.4 million), a reflection of his value and appeal in the high-stakes football world. 𝗟𝗢𝗥𝗖𝗛 𝗠𝗢𝗦𝗧 𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪𝗘𝗗 Thembinkosi Lorch is the most viewed profile on the Transfermarkt platform after his performance against Man City at the FIFA Club World Cup. 👀 100% successful dribbles (3/3) 5 duels won 40 touches 7 touches in opposition box 70% pass accuracy… June 19, 2025 The life of Lorch His considerable financial fortune allows Lorch to indulge in a lifestyle that many aspire to but few achieve. Designer drip Frrom his sponsor Puma to luxury brands, the fashion-forward footballer recently posted pics of him sporting Louis Vuitton ready-to-wear menswear pieces from head to toe. According to LV's site, the LV Gradient Cotton T-shirt is valued at a round-off figure of R22 000. Lorch styled the shirt with ripped denim shorts and a pair of black and white LV Trainer sneakers, priced at R27 000 on Court Order SA. When it comes to the pricey baggage showcased by Lorch, his leather Louis Vuitton Keepall Bandouliere Monogram Travel Bag costs up to R45 000 according to the brand's Euro site. The baller is also sorted when it comes to travel luggage with his Louis Vuitton Horizon 55 Monogram Eclipse Black suitcase, with its cost ranging from R57 800 to over R65 300 on resale site Stock X. Car collection Lorch's car collection reflects his status as a football elite. He owns a powerful Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.6L Summit, valued at R1.1 million, which he frequently showcases on social media. The tricky attacker is also the proud owner of a sleek red Volkswagen Polo GTI. Rumours of a Lamborghini purchase for his father surfaced in 2019, with costs estimated between R410 000 and R8.43 million, but Lorch has never confirmed this and the car remains unseen. Midrand mansion Lorch resides in a luxurious mansion in Midrand, Johannesburg, featuring modern aesthetics, a swimming pool and a sleek kitchen often glimpsed in his Instagram posts. While he maintains privacy about his home for security reasons, the glimpses shared reveal a sophisticated and comfortable living space fitting for a star of his calibre. Exotic getaways Lorch's social media is filled with images of enviable vacations, including trips to Spain and Zanzibar's luxurious Hotel Riu Palace with actress Narasha Thahane – his former girlfriend and baby mama.
