Arsene Wenger is reportedly readying a January bid to sign Ajax pair Jan Vertonghen and Christian Eriksen as he looks to further strengthen his Emirates Stadium squad after a very poor start to the Premier League campaign.
Both Ajax players have been long term targets of the Gunners boss and Wenger will look to make substantial offers to lure the duo to North London.
Despite bringing in Per Mertesacker from Werder Bremen it appears that Arsenal’s defence is still very much in need of added solidity and Wenger hopes that the addition of Belgian international Vertonghen can help fulfill just such a role. The 24 year old Ajax captain has formed a national team pairing with Thomas Vermaelen and the French manager will be looking to the powerfully built centre back to steady things at the back.
Though Arsenal have suffered with injury concerns with a number of their defensive options there is growing speculation that French duo Sebastien Squillaci and Laurent Koscielny will be made available for transfer as neither have adapted well to life in the English top tier and the jury is seemingly still out on Swiss centre back Johan Djourou.
Wenger will also look to persuade Danish international starlet Christian Eriksen to move to Arsenal. The teenager had a standout campaign last term during which the attacking midfielder notched up over 45 appearances in all competitions and help Ajax to the Dutch title.
The 19 year old is being touted by a number of Europe’s elite but Wenger’s reputation for trusting to youth may help Arsenal win the race for a player who may well see his future as being best served outside the Dutch Eredivisie.
The pair are valued in the region of a combined fee of €40m (£34.3m) and this is a price Wenger is willing to pay and given that Arsenal sold players to the tune of over £70m over the summer (whilst spending around £48m on new signings) the Gunners manager will be hopeful the club’s board is ready to offer him the funds to make a significant offer.
Whilst both players will of course be cup tied when it comes to Champions League football it seems that such has been the disastrous start to the season that the main prize to secure would be another top four finish.
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