Arsenal Transfer News: Big-Money Stars and Major Rumours Linked to Gunners

Arsenal have been urged to spend big on the likes of Paul Pogba, Diego Godin and Karim Benzema this summer. But the Gunners may miss out on Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech.

Writing for the Daily Mail, Sky Sports' pundit Jamie Carragher believes Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger must recruit marquee stars if his team is going to win next season's Premier League title.

Carragher insists the spine of the Gunners squad is stronger than it's been in recent years. But the ex-Liverpool defender thinks Arsenal still need some star power running through the middle:

Why doesn’t he go for Paul Pogba, who looks set to leave Juventus? Wenger spent £42m on Mesut Ozil, so why not spend the same and more on Pogba. If they needed to sign Ozil two years ago, their need to sign Pogba this summer is even greater. Diego Godin of Atletico Madrid is 29 and at the peak of his powers. He would be ideal at the heart of the defence.

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If a forward with the class of players he has had before, such as Thierry Henry or Nicolas Anelka, comes on the market, Wenger would have to move for him. Imagine what Luis Suarez, Sergio Aguero or Karim Benzema could do for Arsenal?

Juventus ace Paul Pogba will naturally remind many Gunners fans of the days when Patrick Vieira ran the show at the heart of midfield. The burly Frenchman was the linchpin of Wenger's best Arsenal teams.

Pogba, while more of a force in attacking areas, is also strong, creative and expert at transitioning defence to attack.

Yet as good as Pogba is, his price tag may be off-putting even to a club that hasn't been shy about spending big during the last two summers. Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez arriving at the Emirates Stadium represented a major philosophical shift in the way Wenger's willing to build his teams.

But just because he has greater financial resources doesn't mean Wenger will necessarily opt for Pogba. The Telegraph's Jason Burt has estimated Pogba, who's also coveted by Manchester United, will cost more than £60 million.

Meanwhile, B/R's Guillem Balague has suggested Juve have already rebuffed a €70 million offer from Barcelona. That gives some idea about the type of fee needed to eventually lure Pogba from Turin:

Carragher and many others may believe Pogba makes sense on the surface, but there's no suggestion Arsenal are ready to make a bid. In fact, there are intriguing, cheaper alternatives. Apparently, the Gunners are already considering one of them.

Arsenal have been linked with a £21.5 million move for Sporting Lisbon powerhouse William Carvalho, according to Portuguese publication O Jogo (h/t Telegraph Sport.)

Similarly, it's tough to see Wenger recruiting a striker the calibre of Karim Benzema based on how well Olivier Giroud has performed this season. The one-time Montpellier star has hit 17 goals, per WhoScored.com, despite missing three months through injury.

With England international Danny Welbeck also in the fold, Wenger may deem it more prudent to look for a prospect to boost the ranks up front.

Of the names Carragher mentioned, Diego Godin makes the most sense. Even after the arrival of Gabriel Paulista in January, and despite the presence of Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny, the Gunners still need a dominant centre-back.

Godin has been exactly that for Atletico Madrid. The Uruguayan is lethal in the air at both ends of the pitch and never seems to be caught out of position.

It would take a lot to pry Godin loose from the Spanish capital. But this is one player worth the effort and money for Arsenal.

PSG Could Win the Race for Cech

Wenger's bid to solidify things at the back may have to do without Cech. The veteran Chelsea stopper is set to leave Stamford Bridge this summer and Arsenal have been heavily linked.

But the Mirror's Darren Lewis believes mega-rich Ligue 1 outfit Paris Saint-Germain are determined to beat the competition to the 32-year-old's signature. The idea of Cech landing in the French capital is gathering steam.

Former Chelsea assistant Ray Wilkins even told beIN Sports Cech is on his way to France this summer, per Sport360.com's James Piercy:

B/R's Jonathan Johnson confirmed, via a Le Parisien report, Cech is indeed a prime target for a proposed PSG spending spree this summer:

Arsenal's need for Cech is obvious. Wojciech Szczesny has regressed in recent seasons, even if new arrival David Ospina has been relatively impressive this term.

Former Gunner Ray Parlour believes Cech is the natural upgrade over Szczesny, per the London Evening Standard's James Olley: "Whether Chelsea would let him go to one of their rivals is the burning question, but if Cech was available for the money reported — about £10million — it is a no-brainer. He would be first on my shopping list. I’d let Szczesny go if he wants to play more regularly because that wouldn’t happen."

It's difficult to fault Parlour's logic.

Gunners Tracking £21.5 Million-rated Monaco Centre-Back

If Wenger's looking for an easier get than Godin, he may focus on AS Monaco's Aymen Abdennour. Goal writer Robin Bairner detailed how the defender's agent has been talking up Arsenal interest:

A report from Foot Mercato (h/t London24.com's Jack Green) carried more quotes from the agent:

Arsenal do not miss one of his matches. They were there yesterday. They know very well.

Other very large English clubs like Tottenham are on the spot too. The great Spanish and Italian clubs are very interested.

Wenger and his staff were certainly given a first-hand view of Abdennour's ability. The beefy central defender was one of the stars of Moncao's UEFA Champions League last-16 win over the Gunners.

The 25-year-old was particularly impressive during the first leg, a 3-1 win at the Emirates Stadium for the Ligue 1 side. What Wenger would have seen is a solid-as-a-rock tackler and a consistent winner of aerial duels.

Abdennour's combative temperament and rugged attributes make him perfectly suited for the rough and tumble of England's top flight. Arsenal have lacked an uncompromising, physically imposing centre-back ever since Sol Campbell acted as the mainstay in front of goal.

Yet the agent being so open and specific about the interest has to cast some doubt on this rumour. His utterances sound more like an attempt to generate buzz for his client.

Abdennour has certainly impressed in Europe this season, but is that a big enough sample size to bring him to the Premier League?

At the moment, you can't take a walk without tripping over a pundit only too happy to say what and who Arsenal need this summer. Yet despite Carragher's assertions, Wenger isn't currently pursuing any major stars, at least not publicly.

Honestly, why would he when his current squad is loaded with talent and enjoying an extended winning run in two competitions? He's spent big the last two summers, but the Arsenal chief may feel only minor tinkering is needed this year.