Pundit issues stark warning to Arsene Wenger about Arsenal summer signings

Danny Murphy has urged Arsene Wenger to clarify his Arsenal future as soon as possible if the Gunners want to land their top summer transfer targets.

The 67-year-old is keeping his cards close to his chest about his plans for the future after the north London club offered the Frenchman a new two-year contract extension.

Wenger’s current deal is set to expire at the end of the season after a disappointing campaign for the Gunners in the Champions League and the Premier League.

Arsenal are in sixth place in the Premier League table and six points behind fourth-placed Liverpool in the race to secure a place in Europe’s premier club competition next term.

The Gunners lost 10-2 to Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich in the Champions League last 16 in March.

Arsenal signed five players in last summer’s transfer window, including Shkodran Mustafi, Lucas Perez and Granit Xhaka.

Writing in his Evening Standard column about Wenger’s future at the north London side, former Liverpool and Tottenham midfielder Murphy said:

“They will need to strengthen, especially in attack if Sanchez leaves but I fear that the longer Arsenal and Wenger take to decide the manager’s future, the more it will affect recruitment for next season.

“Are there people in the background assessing players and scouting with next season in mind, whoever is manager? Wenger has always appeared to have total control over everything.

“They could find themselves playing catch-up on transfers and that is why it is time a decision on Wenger’s future was made. The players, the coaches, the fans need to know what will happen so they can move forward.”