Ray Parlour rates Arsenal’s interest in one forgotten Chelsea star but believes the player would be better off snubbing the transfer.
After finishing runner-up in the Premier League for a third successive season, Arsenal are ready to spend big this summer in order to finally end their trophy-drought.
Martin Zubimendi is expected to join from Real Sociedad for £50million, a new striker will surely be signed and Gabriel Magalhaes has penned a new long-term contract with the club.
A new back-up goalkeeper to David Raya is also on the agenda with rising stars Jack Porter and Tommy Setford to be loaned out, while Neto has returned to Bournemouth after his season on loan at the Emirates.
The Gunners wanted to sign Joan Garcia from Espanyol, but appear to have lost the transfer race to Barcelona.
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It is now reported that Arsenal have enquired about signing Kepa Arrizabalaga from fierce London rivals Chelsea, with the 30-year-old available for just £5m.
Still the most expensive goalkeeper of all-time, Kepa impressed while on loan at Bournemouth last season but his career at Stamford Bridge has long been over.
Former Arsenal star Parlour believes the Spain international would be a brilliant signing for Mikel Arteta’s side but thinks the keeper would and should turn down the move as he won’t get much game time.
‘It’s all on whether he wants to play, he’s not going to play at Arsenal is he?’ the former England midfielder told talkSPORT.
‘He’s going to be the No.2, do you want to be No.2? He’s obviously been No.1 at Bournemouth. If you’re Arsenal, you want to buy him because he’s a great No.2 to have.
Should Kepa leave Chelsea for Arsenal?
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Yes
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No
‘But if you’re Kepa, you want to play unless you’re happy to sit on the bench but if I was a keeper at his age I’d want to play because you’ll regret it once you finish.’
Arsenal should ‘pay the money’ to sign Aston Villa star
Arsenal would also like to sign a left-sided attacker this summer, with Rodrygo, Nico Williams and Morgan Rogers on their shortlist.
Rogers is a player Parlour would like to see in red and white following a terrific season at Aston Villa where he recorded 14 goals and 15 assists across all competitions.
With five years left on his contract, the England international would not be cheap, with some reports claiming Villa would want upwards of £80m, but Parlour thinks that’s a price worth paying, saying: ‘I think he’s got so much potential.
‘I would pay the money to get him because he’s 22-year-old, he’s got everything going for him, he’s going to get better, Arteta can teach him.
‘He can play No.10, he can play wide, he can play everywhere and he’ll score you some goals as well. So I’d buy him.
‘I’d rather have him than Rodrygo. I think he’s got everything going for him, he’s in the England squad as well now, a very good player.’
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