by Crunch Sports Staff
Santi Cazorla has urged Arsenal to sign a midfielder and a striker to replace Alex Song and Robin van Persie as the as the club continue to be linked with a number of players.
Cazorla, who joined Arsenal earlier this summer, last week saw Van Persie join Manchester United in a £24million deal, while Song on Monday sealed a £15m switch to Barcelona.
Nuri Sahin, Yann M’Vila, and Lucas Biglia continue to be linked with moves to Emirates Stadium as a replacement for Song, while a number of forwards including Athletic Bilbao’s Fernando Llorente have also been linked with the Gunners.
Arsenal are believed to be set to complete the signing of Sahin this week on a season-long loan deal from Real Madrid, and Cazorla is keen to see Arsene Wenger further strengthen his squad before next week’s transfer deadline.
“It’s clear that he [Van Persie] is a great player, a spectacular player, and obviously we would all have preferred it if he had stayed,” the Spaniard said.
“Song has gone as well and there are still ten days left in the market.
“Obviously it’s important to replace players like that because they were so important for the team.”
Bilbao last week confirmed that Llorente, who has just one year left on his current deal at San Mames, has no plans to sign a new contract and wants to leave the Spanish club.
A number of clubs are showing interest in the 27-year-old, with Juventus and Manchester City believed to be keen.
Juve are seen as favourites to win the race to sign the Spain international, and according to Carlos Arino Bajo, his client is open to a move away from La Liga.
“He wants to prove himself in another league,” Bajo told Corriere dello Sport.
“Are Juventus an option? Yes, that’s a possibility.”
Bilbao insist Llorente will only be allowed to leave this month should his €36million buy-out clause be met, with Juve reportedly only prepared to pay €20m.
Speaking after Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Sunderland, Wenger had admitted he needs “one more creative player”, but insisted he had no plans to bring in another striker following the recent signings of Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud.
