Arsenal could’ve signed ‘exceptional’ player this summer but Jamal Musiala ruined the deal for Mikel Arteta

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Arsenal’s transfer plans are already in place ahead of the summer window.

Andrea Berta wants to add a striker, a winger, a central midfielder and a back-up goalkeeper to Mikel Arteta’s ranks, in what could be a busy first few months at the club for the Italian.

After missing out on the Premier League title this campaign, the Gunners are eager to ensure Arteta has all the tools he needs to launch a concerted assault on the honour next season.

Upgrading in wide areas will be key, and it’s well-documented that Nico Williams is Arsenal’s primary winger target ahead of the summer.

However, Berta doesn’t want to put all his eggs in one basket, and has alternatives to the Spaniard lined up.

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Arsenal could’ve signed Leroy Sane if it weren’t for Jamal Musiala

Arsenal Insider revealed on Thursday that Nico Williams may not want to move to the Premier League as he has his heart set on playing for Barcelona with compatriot Lamine Yamal.

Thus, it’s imperative that Berta has a strong wide forward shortlist in place.

Leroy Sane was identified as a target for Arsenal, with the German set to be available on a free transfer in the summer.

However, according to Christian Falk, Sane has opted to remain at Bayern Munich, signing a new three-year contract on reduced terms.

The winger has sacrificed €5 million of his base salary to remain in Bavaria for the foreseeable future, purely because of his friendship with Jamal Musiala.

Falk claims that Arsenal had made an offer to Sane, but he’s chosen to remain by Musiala’s side as the pair of Germans want to win the Champions League together at the Allianz Arena.

Vincent Kompany was keen to keep hold of the former Manchester City man for squad harmony reasons, with both Harry Kane and Musiala desperate to see him remain with the European giants.

Leroy Sane would’ve been an astute signing for Arsenal

Despite turning 29 in January, Sane, who has been described as ‘exceptional’, still has a lot to give at the top level.

Netting eleven goals in all competitions this season, he’s hit double figures for goals in every season he’s played at Bayern.

Signing a winger of Sane’s calibre, who would’ve provided genuine cover and competition for Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli for free, would’ve allowed Arsenal to invest more heavily in other areas.

The £50 million saved on the winger signing may have, for example, enabled the Gunners to splash out on Alexander Isak up front.

Isak would be a genuine game-changer for Arteta’s team, although they’re unlikely to allocate a large chunk of their resources to the Swede when they also have other work left to do in the squad.