The transfer window is now open, one name expected to make a move this month is Morgan Schneiderlin, the Southampton midfielder nearly left last season but manager Ronald Koeman convinced him to stay for another season.
According to the Sunday Times the French midfielder would prefer a switch to the Emirates, although he has been identified as a transfer target by Manchester United, who have recently had a £20 million bid rejected for the player.
Southampton's talisman
Schneiderlin will be a big loss if he does leave for pastures new, he made 26 league appearances last season and helped his club to a more than respectable 7th placed finish. Southampton only conceded 33 goals in 38 league games, Schneiderlin made a huge contribution defensively contributing 79 tackles and 63 interceptions.
The holding midfielder is believed to be valued around £25 million and there is no immediate need to sell, but with the player reportedly being unsettled it may be best for all parties concerned for him to be moved on for the right price.
The missing piece of the Arsenal puzzle?
Following the capture of Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech, a defensive midfielder is now thought to be the priority for Arsene Wenger, who is short of cover or indeed any direct competition for Francis Coquelin.
Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini are both past their best and have been found wanting in the last two seasons, if Arsenal are to challenge for the title successfully next season, squad improvements are a necessity.
Schneiderlin is a man that would fit the bill, he can either play as a holding midfield player or a useful box-to-box midfielder, one stumbling block could be the fee that Southampton have demanded for the player, with Wenger reportedly having cooled on his interest.
The closer it gets to the start of the season, the more the fans will get restless that, this position has not been addressed once again.
Arsenal are a team that have plenty of attacking options, but defensively they are short of quality in-depth and this is something that will need to be rectified, if they are to challenge Jose Mourinho's Chelsea next season.