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  "path": "/2026/06/06/micah-richards-names-130m-arsenal-signing-will-take-to-next-level-28673349/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-06T16:23:56.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
  "tags": [
    "Football",
    "Sport",
    "Arsenal",
    "Arsenal transfer news",
    "Atletico Madrid",
    "Julian Alvarez",
    "Micah Richards",
    "Transfer News and Rumours",
    "Manchester City",
    "The Gunners ended their 22-year wait for a Premier League title in May",
    "Mikel Arteta",
    "Carabao Cup",
    "FA Cup",
    "they met Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final",
    "Sign up here",
    "Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Jesus and Ben White among those who could leave.",
    "Atletico would demand up to €150million (£130m) if forced to let him go.",
    "Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source"
  ],
  "textContent": "Arsenal can’t afford to stand still in the summer transfer window (Picture: Getty Images)\n\nMicah Richards has named former Manchester City star Julian Alvarez as the signing that can take Arsenal to ‘the next level’ next season.\n\nThe Gunners ended their 22-year wait for a Premier League title in May, the culmination of an eight-year project in north London overseen by Mikel Arteta.\n\nThere was the prospect of more silverware. Arsenal fell short in the Carabao Cup final in March and suffered a shock elimination against Southampton in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.\n\nHaving gone unbeaten in Europe all season, they met Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final, taking the lead after just six minutes in Budapest. The night ended in heartbreak with a missed penalty from Gabriel Magalhaes ensuring the trophy will remain in the French capital for another year.\n\n##  All the World Cup action\n\nGet everything you need to know about the World Cup – England updates, the games to watch and stories you missed – in five minutes, at 1pm, every day. Sign up here.\n\nWhile the Champions League was decided on the finest of margins, Arsenal plan to continue building this summer to go that one step further next season.\n\nHaving already assembled one of the strongest squads in Europe, the Premier League champions are looking to strengthen at right-back, central midfield, left wing and up front with Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Jesus and Ben White among those who could leave.\n\nHaving watched his old City side relentlessly strengthen over the years as champions, Richards has warned Arsenal ‘not to rest on their laurels’ and secure a statement signing that fits what Arteta demands from his team.\n\nAlvarez is firmly on Arsenal’s radar (Picture: Europa Press)\n\nWith the club’s attack not quite as fearsome as PSG’s and City’s, the former defender believes a sensational swoop for Atletico Madrid star Alvarez would go some way in bridging the gap.\n\n‘I don’t think they need a superstar signing for the sake of it. They have got to fit into what Mikel Arteta wants,’ Richards told**Metro.**\n\n‘If they could get one of those signings over the line that would be a real statement of intent. They can’t rest on their laurels, they need to go again. They should be looking at Alvarez at Atletico Madrid.\n\n‘Yes, [Viktor] Gyokeres has done well in spells, [Kai] Havertz has scored important goals. But you need to go to the next level. When you look at what PSG have in terms of their forward line, look at what Man City have, Arsenal need to get to that next level and get whoever they want. They are challenging on all fronts now so it would be nice for the fans to have that statement signing.\n\nRichards believes Arsenal only need ‘one or two’ high quality signings (Picture: Getty Images)\n\n‘They only need one or two but they need to be high quality. It is no longer the case of needing squad players. I think the balance is just about right as it is and we knew for the most part what the best starting XI would be. But they can go one step more to make sure they are constantly challenging.’\n\nGyokeres scored 21 goals in his first full season at Arsenal but was left on the bench for the Champions League final with Havertz given the nod ahead of him.\n\nAny move for Alvarez would likely require Arsenal to break their transfer record with reports in Spain suggesting Atletico would demand up to €150million (£130m) if forced to let him go.\n\n**_Micah Richards has teamed up with meat snack brand Peperami for its Be Bold. Be Meaty campaign. He is fronting a major social-first content series set to air during the World Cup, as well as supporting the launch of the new Peperami x Doritos BBQ Sweet Tang limited edition range._**\n\nComment now Comments \nAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source\n",
  "title": "Micah Richards names £130m Arsenal signing that will take them ‘to next level’"
}