Arsenal money man finances 18-month transformative splurge for Arteta
Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke has reportedly agreed to a significant period of first-team investment to turn the club into a Premier League force again.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has done magnificently to lift the gloom left behind by his predecessor Unai Emery.
Indeed, Arteta has already brought in the FA Cup and Community Shield in a bold statement of intent. The Spanish boss has paired that up with shrewd recent signings in Gabriel Magalhaes and Thomas Partey.
But Arteta has admitted that his team remain a “long way” off their true potential, with Arsenal needing further hard work and first-team additions to reach their heights.
As such, The Athletic claims that Arsenal owner Kroenke has decided to give Arteta significant long-term backing.
The source says that Kroenke will fully back the manager in the transfer market over a period of 18 months. What’s more, that spell will start in the upcoming January window.
Indeed, one target reportedly already on the agenda is RB Salzburg’s Dominik Szoboszlai. The Gunners targeted a creative midfielder in the summer, but did not meet Houssem Aouar’s price tag.
As such, exciting Hungary international Szoboszlai is firmly in the club’s sights. Arsenal’s financiers have reportedly discussed meeting his £22.5million release clause.
The 20-year-old has scored 22 goals and assisted 33 others in 74 games for Salzburg, including 14 contributions this term.
Top clubs circling for Szoboszlai
However, Germany legend Lothar Matthaus has outlined the battle that Arsenal could face in convincing him to move to north London.
“He is a gem,” Matthaus told Munchner Abendzeitung (via the Daily Express). “He’s like Kai Havertz.
“He could move to RB Leipzig in January, but I’m convinced that every top club in Europe has him on their list, including FC Bayern.
“In Hungary, Szoboszlai is already being compared to the great Ferenc Puskas.”
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