Arsenal Transfers - 10 Dream Replacements For Thomas Vermaelen

4. Mehdi Benatia

Arsenal are also rivaling Chelsea for Mehdi Benatia this summer if reports are to be believed with both British clubs keen on the highly-rated Roma centre-back. The Gunners could have a distinct advantage over their Premier League rivals in the race for the French-born Moroccan international in that the Blues cannot sign another foreign player this summer without exceeding their allowed quota under Premier League rules. Benatia has been earning rave reviews of late having joined Roma from Udinese last year and has earned a reputation as a goal-scoring defender, netting five in Serie A last season. His pace, power and strength also make him ideally suited for the Premier League, however his excellent performances, coupled by the fact he only joined Roma 12 months ago, means he will cost close to £50 million. Such a fee would mean the purchase of the 27-year-old would set a world transfer record for a defender and dwarf David Luiz's £40 million move from Chelsea to Paris Saint-Germain earlier this summer. That's clearly a blockbuster expenditure for the usually-frugal Arsene Wenger, meaning Arsenal fans may have to settle with dreaming about their club loosening their purse-strings on Benatia.