Arsenal hope for big-name trio in make-or-break summer window

Arsenal look set to complete another trophyless campaign, with the Champions League the only competition they remain in serious contention for.

And as 40/1 shots to lift the European Cup, and underdogs to even progress past Bayern Munich to the quarter-final stage, their silverware drought appears primed to extend.

Faith is set to be placed in Gunners boss Arsene Wenger though, with the Emirates boardroom set to hand the long-standing manager a two-year contract extension.

That comes amidst growing unrest at the club too, after many supporters called for change at the Emirates helm following a fifth-round FA Cup exit at the hands of Blackburn Rovers.

Rather than bow to such fan pressure though, the Gunners board are ready to entrust Wenger with a substantial transfer budget to transform his current squad.

Wenger has identified three key targets so far, and is aiming to build from the back, first firming up his long-standing interest in Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina with a bid.

Reina is keen to experience a change of scenery, and he could swap Merseyside for North London this summer, should Wenger stump up around £8m for the stopper.

‘The Professor’ could then return for one of his January targets, as he hopes to tie up a deal for Toulouse defensive midfielder Etienne Capoue.

Eager to add steel to his side, Wenger sees Capoue as an ideal patroller of his midfield, and still only 24, his potential resale value appeals to the Gunners boss too.

Capoue has a £22m release clause in his current contract, but Wenger would be confident of landing the French international for closer to £10m.

That would leave a vast amount of Wenger’s reported £70m war-chest remaining, and he could utilise a portion of it to invest in diminutive Fiorentina forward Stevan Jovetic.

Whilst a move for David Villa is still in the pipeline, the younger Jovetic could be a higher priority Gunners addition, given the likely transfer battle that would ensue for his services.

Indeed, Chelsea and Manchester City have long tracked the 23-year-old Montenegran, whose goals-to-game average exceeds one in two in Serie A this term.

However, more guaranteed first-team opportunities could attract the technically-gifted attacker to Arsenal, and he would be expected to integrate seamlessly into Wenger’s attractive playing system.

For £26m, Jovetic could become one of at least three big-name summer arrivals at the Emirates.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.