Defender Victor Lindelof Joins Manchester United for £31m

Manchester United have completed the signing of Swedish international
defender, Victor Lindelof from Benfica on a four year deal with an
option for a fifth year. The 22 year old joins the Old Trafford club
for a fee of £31m. The pricely sum makes him the most expensive
defender in the club's history. That accolade was previously held by
Rio Ferdinard when he was signed from Leeds United for £29m in 2002.

The 22 year old Lindelof arrives on the back of playing an
instrumental role in helping Benfica win a domestic league and cup
double last season. He played 47 games across all competitions for the
Portuguese champions.
Standing at 6ft 2in he is expected to add some montrosity to
Manchester United backline alongside Eric Bailly who excelled in his
first season at Old Trafford.

With this signing, the future of Chris Smalling is now clearly
uncertain as the England international has been linked with a move
away from the club. However, other there are reports that the club is
looking to add more defensive cover. But, the futures of Phil Jones
and Daley Blind remains unclear.

Jose Mourinho had this to say about his first signing of the summer.

"Victor is a very talented young player, who has a great future ahead
of him at United. Our season last year showed us that we need options
and quality to add depth to the squad and Victor is the first to join
us this summer,"

While the player had his say about his move:

"I'm thrilled," he said.
"I have enjoyed my time at Benfica enormously and I have learned a lot
there. But I'm looking forward to playing in the Premier League at Old
Trafford and for Jose Mourinho. I'm keen to get started and make my
contribution to the team's efforts to win more trophies,"

Old Trafford is expected to see more high profile arrivals this
summer. With Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata reported close to
joining the club for another huge outlay.

Arsenal Confirms Signing of Defender Sead Kolasinac

Arsenal have confirmed the signing of Bosnia international Sead
Kolasinac on a free transfer from Bundesliga side Schalke where he has
been for the last five years.
The 23 year old who plays as both a left back and a wing back is
reported to have signed a five year deal until 2022.
The 6ft defender was part of the Bundesliga eleven of the just concluded season.

His arrival is expected to put more pressure on Kieran Gibbs who has
been linked with a move out of the club. With Newcastle United
reported to be interested in the English left back.

With Nacho Monreal now 30 years, the Bosnian is expected to be his
long term replacement in that role. With Arsene Wenger deploying a
3-4-3 system to finish the recent season, and Sead Kolasinac adept at
playing as a wing back due to the system Schalke played last season,
he won't be new to the playing as wing back should Arsene Wenger
persist with three at the back next season.

This is expected to be the first of several arrivals already planned
by the club with a bid of £95 already reportedly for made and
rejected for Monaco teenage sensation Mbappe.

The players expected to leave Arsenal this summer includes Matthieu
Debuchy, Joel Campbell, the aforementioned Gibbs, David Ospina, Carl
Jenkinson, Yaya Sanogo has confirmed he is leaving at the end of his
contract this month and Lucas Perez's future is still up in the air.

It promises to be a busy summer at Arsenal.

Arsene Wenger's new contract: More of the same or there would be changes?

Arsene Wenger signed a two year extension to extend his stay at Arsenal to 2019 during the week.. The Frenchman faced arguably his most difficult season as manager of the North London club after a terrible run of form from the end of January to early April culminated in seven defeats from twelves matches in all competitions. Yet as it common with Arsene Wenger's Arsenal over the years, they always seem to end the season with a flourish after the usual mid season loss of form. An untypical change of formation for the first time since September. 1996 which saw the manager adopt a 3-4-3 formation meant Arsenal won nine out of its ten matches to finish the season. The high of winning the FA Cup against champions Chelsea culminated in another contract extension. The cup win at Wembley made Arsenal the most successful club in the history of the competition with its 13th win, while Arsene Wenger became the most successful manager in FA Cup history with its seventh win. Its a feat that would take some beating to overcome.

The familiar failings of Arsenal were all on display for all to see this season in the just concluded season. The usual starting a season in a flourish, which inevitably lures the fans to a sense of false security and excitement. But when push comes to shove and the pressures goes up, the team collapses. Yet, the manager attributed this year's collapse to unusual circumstances which had to do with uncertainties over his future which he claimed unsettled his players.
The way Arsenal overcome bogey teams such as Southampton and Stoke City away from homes in matches they had to win, must make its fans wonder why they can't show such enthusiasm for a title race the way they do for a top four finish. Now after the glorious failure of settling for a Europa league spot, which was rewarded with a new contract, something has to give.
The contract extension was followed by the usual official line and assertion that there would be changes in the transfer market in the off season. Such lines have been heard before, but where never backed by actions. which is why whether this contract extension would end up being more of the same or there would be genuine change would be known in the weeks and months to come.

One reason why the stasis can't continue is because there are actually questions that needs to be addressed. Since Arsenal only deploy a weapon of reactionary activity, they would do well to react to the numerous players that their contracts have been allowed to run down to just one year left. Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Alexis Oxlade Chamberlain's contracts have to be addressed. The likes of Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs would have to be sold with just a year left in their contracts. Carl Jenkinson, Matthieu Debuchy, Yaya Sanogo and Lucas Perez, who is looking for a move a way after growing frustrated at a lack of playing time.

Arsene Wenger would have to be more ruthless in his approach to dealing with players. it;s an indictment and pure negligence that a player like Yaya Sanogo was in Arsenal's books for four years, and yet the club is reluctant to meet the wage demands of the likes of Alexis and Ozil. If non performing players are removed from the wage will, it would go a long way in adequately fixing wage demands of key players.

It remains to be seen how Arsene Wenger approach the summer's business. he, more than anybody else would know that, things can't possibly continue the way they have been before. He has shown he can change with that change of formation for the first time in twenty years, and now, he has to replicate that in his transfer business this summer.