ARSENAL legend Bacary Sagna believes Mikel Arteta should sign West Ham’s Declan Rice, Leicester’s James Maddison and Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse.
The Gunners launched an unexpected Premier League title bid but were ultimately bested by Manchester City, who finished five points ahead of them.
Arsenal legend Bacary Sagna named three stars his former club needs to sign
Sagna insists Arsenal should sign West Ham star Declan Rice if Granit Xhaka leaves
Arsenal could rekindle their interest in Leicester star James Maddison
Southampton star James Ward-Prowse would be a difference maker at Arsenal, as per Sagna
Sagna suggested the North Londoners could finish the job next season if they sign the right players in the upcoming summer transfer window.
And the former right-back believes Maddison as well as Ward-Prowse would be a good start after their clubs got relegated.
Arsenal tried to land Maddison in 2021 and may rekindle their interest as he is set to leave Leicester with a release clause in the region of £40million and his contract running out next year.
Ward-Prowse is also ready to depart after 12 years at St Mary’s with Southampton not willing to accept anything less than £40m ahead of a summer rebuild.
Sagna told SunSport, via Lord Ping, when asked who Arsenal need to sign: “James Maddison from Leicester. I also really like Ward-Prowse. He is a player that can change a game on his own.
“Every team needs a player that can change a game in a heartbeat. You know when Arsenal used to play Stoke, Rory Delap was a player that could change a game on his own because of his long throws.
“Ward-Prowse is a master at set pieces. When a game is locked and you have a player with his ability, that is so dangerous.
“His free-kicks are the best in the league. I am not saying that he would start every game, but if you added him from the bench with 15 or 20 minutes to go, he would make the difference.
“You need players like that in your team. His free-kicks are ridiculous. He takes them for fun.”
Sagna also insists Arsenal should do all they can to land priority target Rice if Granit Xhaka leaves.
Xhaka appears set to move away from the Emirates after seven years of service with Bayer Leverkusen showing immense interest.
Sagna is adamant the Switzerland international must be replaced by a player of Rice’s calibre.
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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is set to tackle the summer transfer window
The ex-France international believes the England star would flourish under Arteta as he would have more freedom in midfield than he does at West Ham while playing with “better players”.
Sagna added: “I think he would play with more freedom at Arsenal than he currently enjoys at West Ham.
“I think he will find himself in situations where he will have the opportunity to add more goals to his game because he will be receiving better service at Arsenal and he will be playing with better players who will be able to find him like Odegaard.
“I think that the only way for Arsenal to allow Xhaka to leave is by signing Declan Rice. If Xhaka leaves, then I would hope Arsenal may very well have something lined up with Rice.”
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