FORMER Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong has urged the club to break the bank and bring West Ham star Declan Rice to the Emirates.
Boss Mikel Arteta is known to be interested in signing another central midfielder in what is set to be another busy summer in North London.
Ex-Arsenal ace Emmanuel Frimpong has had his say on who he wants the club to sign this summerCredit: Getty – ContributorFrimpong believes West Ham star Declan Rice would thrive playing alongside Thomas ParteyCredit: Rex
The Gunners are set to lose a number of players in that area in the summer, with Mohamed Elneny poised to become a free agent.
Meanwhile Marseille have turned Matteo Guendouzi’s loan spell into a permanent stay.
Question marks also still remain over the futures of Lucas Torreira and Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who are on loan at Fiorentina and Roma respectively.
And Roma could also reignite their interest in Granit Xhaka with Jose Mourinho refusing to give up on the Swiss ace.
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Asked who he would want to be brought in during the upcoming window, Frimpong, who came through the Arsenal academy before making 16 first team appearances, stated Rice is his No1 choice.
The ex-Ghana international believes the former Chelsea academy man could form a formidable partnership with Thomas Partey in the middle of the pitch.
Speaking exclusively to SunSport via BoyleXtra, Frimpong said: “I would like to have Declan Rice.
“He’s a very good player, improved a lot and shown a lot of maturity for his age. He’s done really well for West Ham, I’m a huge fan of his.
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“A midfield of him and Partey would be a very strong midfield partnership. I’d also like another left-back to compete with [Kieran] Tierney.
“I feel like we’re really struggling in that department at the moment.
“I’d also want us to sign a striker – there aren’t any that come to mind that are realistic signings at the minute, but that’s one position we really need to strengthen.”
Despite being tied down at the London Stadium until 2024, Rice is facing an uncertain future at West Ham.
According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, the 23-year-old has rejected a third contract offer ahead of a possible summer move away.
Frimpong is also of the opinion that Arsenal could challenge for the Premier League within the next five years should they invest in the team.
He remarked: “A lot can happen in the five years, when [Jurgen] Klopp came to Liverpool nobody was thinking they could win the Champions League as soon as they won it.
“Sometimes, you can get the right manager but if the board is not backing you, it becomes incredibly difficult.
“Arteta got the board to back him, they bought some quality players and this next transfer window they need to go the extra mile again, bringing even more players as the squad is thin.
“If they invest in a squad, I don’t see why they can’t be competing for titles within the next five years. Why not?”
