Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta could be tempted to dip into the free-agent market in the summer of 2022 after his major shopping spree this year.
The Gunners spent £149million over the summer as part of their major rebuild to become a club capable of challenging for titles rather than just European football.
The club want to build a team that can compete in the short-term but also grow into one of the best in the league in the next few years, so they signed players all aged 24 and under.
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The acquisitions of Ben White, Aaron Ramsdale, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Martin Odegaard and Nuno Tavares has completely shaken up the Emirates Stadium outfit, which could mean they have a smaller budget to work with next year.
Having paid significant fees for several of those players, the idea of bringing in a player for next to nothing will be incredibly appealing to Arteta. Here are three he may consider bringing to the club next year which abides by Arteta’s ‘under 25 rule’...
Boubacar Kamara
Marseille’s Boubacar Kamara will be one of the most sought after players of the 2022 transfer window if he does not sign a contract extension in the Ligue 1.
The French midfielder, who has previously played as a central defender, has been linked with several Premier League clubs due to how well he breaks down play and can fuel attacks from deep.
At just 21 years old, and valued by transfermarkt at £25.2m, Kamara has the potential to grow into one of the best holding midfielders in the league if mentored correctly, which is an opportunity that Arteta may not be able to pass up on.
There is a case to be made that the Gunners do not need the midfielder after Granit Xhaka signed a contract extension over the summer which keeps him at the Emirates Stadium until 2024 and Ghanian Thomas Partey is also contracted until 2025.
However, although Lokonga arrived just a few months ago, Kamara could easily become one of the first names on the team sheet under Arteta and he would be great cover for Gabriel and White in central defence too.
Todd Cantwell
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Norwich City have had a poor start to their Premier League campaign and picked up just one point in seven games, and who could blame promising youngster Todd Cantwell if he opts to leave the club soon.
The 23-year-old lit up the English top-flight in 2019/20 campaign but hasn’t been able to find the back of the net since his return.
Cantwell creates chances, dribbles well and has an eye for goal, he is also versatile and would provide depth on the wing as well as in the attacking midfielder role.
There will be plenty of competition to secure the Englishman’s signature, but the potential to be a part of a project that could lead to silverware may be attractive to the Canaries midfielder.
Noussair Mazraoui
Moroccan right-back Noussair Mazraoui looks set to leave Ajax at the end of the season and there will be numerous clubs around Europe looking to sign him.
The 23-year-old has impressed since breaking into the first team in 2018 and has been in flying form this season, scoring four goals in eight league appearances.
Mazraoui deserves to be a regular starter wherever he goes so would have to battle it out with Tomiyasu for the right-back position, however, there is no assurance that both cannot play.
Arteta looks like he has a defence more than capable of playing as a back five; with Tomiyasu as a right-sided central defender and Mazaroui in right-wing back with a licence to join the attack where possible, signing the latter could be a perfect piece of recruitment if a formation change is considered.
