Tim Cahill
Cahill is a player who I really rate, the 31 year old, Evertonian as a box to box midfielder with a fantastic work rate, and ethic. He is a good tackler, and a very passionate player. One of the Australian's main attributes which I feel would really help Arsenal is that - despite only being 5'10'' - Cahill is fantastic in the air. In 2009/10, his first 7 goals of the season were all with his head. This season, he managed 11 goals from 29 starts, not bad by any midfielder's standards, he managed this despite missing part of the season for international duty, and Everton's woeful early season form. He also has 23 goals for Australia from his 52 caps. Everton would definitely loath to lose him, and contracted until 2014, it could be tricky to prise him away. I would imagine that Everton would be prepared to do business for around £10,000,000 Arsenal could also potentially try to go a part exchange maybe offering Denilson plus some cash could tempt David Moyes to sell.
Miroslav Klose
Klose is a talented player, however, much like Niklas Bendtner - rumoured to be headed to Bayern Munich -, the 32 year old German seems to reserve his best form for his country. He has scored 61 goals in 109 appearances for Germany, whereas (I believe) he has only managed 24 goals from 98 games for Bayern Munich. Last season, he scored 15 from 23 starts and 15 substitute appearances, which sounds reasonable. Available as a free agent, the 6 footer could represent a quality addition to the Arsenal ranks, were Arsene Wenger prepared to go in for a player over 30, especially as his refusal to sign on with Bayern for longer seems to be based on the length of the contract on offer, not on money.
Richard Kingson
The undisputed Ghanaian number 1 was released by Blackpool at the end of last season, following their relegation to the Championship, so the 6'1'' goalkeeper is available on a free transfer. The 32 year old made 19 starts for Blackpool, and made 77 saves. At the World Cup last summer, Kingson made 5 starts, pulling off 27 saves; not a bad showing. He does have one quite major blip on his record, and that is that he failed a drugs test in 2005 whilst playing in Turkey, he received a 6 month ban from UEFA, but would seem to have successfully rebuilt his career and reputation. I'm not suggesting that we sign Kingson as a new #1 but I feel that he would be a good (enough) 'keeper to have in the squad to provide competition for Szczesney and Fabianski. I think that Manuel Almunia will leave in the summer, along with Jens Lehmann and Vito Mannone. Lehmann has been linked with a move back to the Bundesliga to Shalke, and I can see Mannone joining Hull on a permanent basis after excelling on loan there last season. I'm not sure where Almunia will be plying his trade next season, but I'm convinced that it will not be at Arsenal.
Diego Benaglio
The Italian Swiss has proved himself to be a decent 'keeper, both on the international stage, and for German side Wolfsburg. At 27, many Arsenal fans might consider him to be too young, but I would again be suggesting him as a squad player. Last season, the 6'4'' stopper made 102 saves from 28 games, an average of 3.6 per game (compared to 4.1 from Kingson) and made 16 saves in 3 games at the World Cup last year, as the Swiss failed to progress from their group. Another solid goalie, he could provide high level competition for Fabianski and Szczesney. I would see around £8 million snaring Benaglio for Arsenal.
(Dis)agree with me? Who would you like to see at Arsenal next year? Let me know your views on Twitter (@Goonernl) or in the comments below.
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