Arsenal need to back their next manager with more than £50 million, says Ian Wright, with the Gunners requiring a new centre-half, goalkeeper and midfielder.
A new man will be taking charge at Emirates Stadium this summer, with Arsene Wenger preparing to step aside after 22 years at the helm,
Whoever is handed the reins – with Goal revealing that Massimiliano Allegri and Mikel Arteta are the favoured options – will be looking to dip into the transfer market almost immediately.
Recruitment is required at a club which has missed out on Champions League football in successive campaigns, with Wright looking for the Arsenal board to make the funds available for a strengthening down the spine of the side.
The former Gunners striker wrote in a column for The Sun: “We know there is no huge war chest for the next boss. Around £50m has been quoted — not in the same league as Chelsea or the Manchester clubs.
“By my reckoning, Arsenal need a centre-half, a keeper and possibly another midfielder.
“What the new boss has to do is arrive with the knowledge he must develop what’s already there and turn them into Premier League stars.
“I do think there’s the basis to do that, though. I love the look of centre- back Konstantinos Mavropanos, Ainsley Maitland-Niles is a player, and Alex Iwobi continues to improve.
“Young Joe Willock and Reiss Nelson are great prospects, too. So it isn’t a case of starting from scratch.
“Arsenal need someone with strength of character, confidence, tactical and coaching ability and an affinity for youth. From the top, it needs patience and nerve, plus the courage to speak up for the manager.”
The Gunners are already being linked with a host of potential fresh faces, but transfer policy will be shaped by whoever steps into Wenger’s shoes.
Arsenal do have Sven Mislintat as their head of recruitment, but he will be working alongside the new boss to bolster the ranks.
The general consensus appears to be that at least three additions will be required, with Wenger having echoed the words of Wright when boldly predicting a title tilt in 2018-19.
The Frenchman said: “I would say the squad doesn’t need much because there’s huge potential there.
“It needs two or three additions and this team will compete for the championship next season.”