Arsenal set £60m ‘superstar’ as top target

Arsenal star Bukayo Saka has signed a new five-year contract extension at the Emirates. The fact that his mind has never turned to chasing suitors from within England or abroad is testament to the great job Mikel Arteta has done at the club.

Saka, 23, is a key star for the Three Lions and one of the most dangerous players in the Premier League, and his links with Hale End have secured him his place as the definitive star of this glorious Gunners resurgence.

However, Arteta and technical director Andrea Berta plan to add more English talent to the squad, with the aim of signing one or two Premier League stars in 2026.

Arsenal want to add English talent to market

Liverpool and Manchester City were the frontrunners in the race to sign Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi last year, but The Athletic’s David Ornstein recently confirmed that Arsenal are considering signing long-time interest.

The struggles of Victor Goqueres and Gabriel Martinelli speak to the need for reinforcements in the attacking third, but Arteta is rooted in defensive principles and looking to add quality and depth at the back, especially given the number of injuries this season.

But Guehi is not the only Three Lions defender to attract attention.

According to a report from TEAMtalk, Arsenal are interested in signing Newcastle United’s Tino Libramento, with the full-back seen as a top target for the Gunners, with the possibility of preparing a move towards the end of the season.

It would be great if the 23-year-old could be brought under Arteta’s control for the second half of the season, but with Eddie Howe keen to strengthen his up-and-down sides, that is unlikely to happen.

Manchester City are also interested in the Chelsea academy product, and it would likely cost at least £60m for suitors to lure him away from St James’ Park.

Why Librament is the perfect reinforcement

Libramento has been on the radar of Arsenal for some time. Two-legged, formidably athletic and as solid defensively as he is tenacious in attack, he is, according to journalist Andy Sixsmith, “one of the best defenders in Europe”.

Through Julian Timber, Arteta has already shown a desire to play as a wide defender on both flanks, and Libramento, who has coincidentally played nine times as a right-back and eight times as a left-back this year, would fit right in there.

Libramento’s athleticism and certainty on the ball could make him a star for Arsenal, and the certainty of his actions could even make him an even better player than Guehi.

Livramento simply has a talent for enhancing the tactical flow of an entire outfit. He’s as dynamic as they come. Guehi is also a top defender, but Arsenal signed Cristian Mosquera from Valencia last summer and the young Spaniard impressed before suffering an injury.

In fact, data-driven platform FBref has recorded that Gabriel is one of the most comparable players to Guehi in Europe through statistical comparisons, so while the desire to sign him is understandable, it is equally difficult to imagine him replacing the awe-inspiring Brazilian.

And William Saliba, although destined to move to Real Madrid at some stage, is unlikely to go anywhere anytime soon.

The former Southampton prospect has averaged 5.2 ball recoveries in the Premier League this season, covers enough defensive ground and will have a chance to secure a starting spot in the prime of his career.

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

Newcastle content creator Kendall Rowan says Livramento, who is undoubtedly a Premier League ‘superstar’, will get even better in the coming years and Guehi would be a great addition, but the Magpies’ ability to perform at an elite level on both fronts of defense highlights his potential to become a mainstay for a club like Arsenal that challenge for the Premier League title.