Unlike most summers, Arsenal should be quite busy in the transfer market, although they might not be chasing the same caliber of players the rest of the top clubs in the Premier League and around Europe are chasing. For example? Recent rumors linking them with Swedish midfielder, Rasmus Elm of CSKA Moscow.
Elm has been under their watch since his days with AZ (2009-2012), proving to be a powerful presence in the middle of the pitch with the ability to score goals, finishing his time in the Netherlands with 20 goals in 103 league matches. Elm left AZ last summer to Russia for €8 million, and has been very successful in helping CSKA win the league title for the first time in 7 years. He finished the season with 5 goals and 3 assists.
His price? Elm has a contract until 2015, which means he won’t come cheaply, but rumors coming out of Russia and Holland suggest that he’s not too happy with life in Moscow, and is trying to push for a departure to the Premier League, knowing that Tottenham have also been sniffing around his availability, probably needing a central midfielder even more than Arsenal do. His price should be at least €12 million.
Elm isn’t the defensive midfielder Arsenal are looking for, but with Mikel Arteta being less and less consistent, while the availability of both Abou Diaby and Jack Wilshere seemingly in constant doubt, Arsenal probably need another quality player in the middle of the pitch. Elm doesn’t bring that toughness everyone keeps insisting is missing from the Arsenal ranks, but his goal-scoring ability and tendency to push forward is something that might make up for a lack of any defensive specialty.
Elm has been a constant feature for the Swedish national team over the last few years, picking up 34 caps and scoring 4 goals since making his debut in 2009, playing in Euro 2012 and scoring the equalizing goal in the famous 4-4 draw with Germany back in October.