Arsene Wenger is looking into the prospect of bringing Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk and Celtic’s Moussa Dembele to Arsenal this summer, according to the Daily Express.
In a bid to make Arsenal ‘title contenders’ Wenger is thinking about putting in a £45m offer to Southampton for Dutch international van Dijk, who could leave the Saints if the right bid comes in.
However, former Celtic defender van Dijk, who has interested Liverpool, is apparently valued significantly higher. If Arsenal could land him for £45m though it would be £12m more than the Gunners could have previously signed the Dutchman.
The Express also said an offer would be made to Scottish champions Celtic for Dembele should Alexis Sanchez leave.
£30m might have been enough to land Dembele, 20, but his 32 goals in 48 appearances last season, coupled with ‘spiralling transfer fees this summer’ means Celtic could now hold out for much more.
Meanwhile, a current player, for now anyway, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has reflected on Arsenal’s last spell in China as the Gunners return this pre-season for another tour in Asia.
He told the Official Website: ‘I remember the fans were amazing. I think the fans all over Asia give us a really good welcome and China was no different to that. We had amazing support out there. We did some really interesting things, I did a bit of – I don`t know what martial arts it was – and just the whole culture in general was really interesting to see and it was good fun.’
Adding: ‘I think we played Man City out there in the Birds Nest and I remember there was a big storm on the day so that was an interesting game. The whole experience was good but the weather was very hot and sticky, I remember that. Tours are massive, any time with your teammates is valuable and you know, you bond with them. When you`re very far away from home in a different environment, different culture, I think you all learn and see different things together at the same time and it`s a fun time.’
