I would pick Nico Schlotterbeck over Van Hecke. Nico is available for just over 50m this summer and certainly belongs to the upper echelon of European CBs.
As for Diomande, he has great potential, but I do hope that Iraola can spot a cheaper alternative.
On top of Wharton, I do hope that we can get Alex Scott as well. Both will reinforce our midfield in different ways. Endo and possibly Macca and Jones will likely leave this summer.
I thought Schlotterbeck was off elsewhere? If not, and we could sign him, great, as heās a very good player.
he just signed a long term deal.
I would prefer we got HĆ¼rzeler but if we do get Iraola, I hope he can bring Rayan with him.
(post deleted by author)
Apparently Schlotterbeck still has a release clause for 3 clubs including us and Real that will expire after WC.
Weāre not in a great position.
Arsenal have had a lot going for them this season, but the biggest difference between them and the pack, in my opinion, is that they have incredible depth. By contrast look at the bench we took to Old Trafford.
I donāt care who the manager is. If they are turning to the bench and seeing no attacking options, and no changes, that really isnāt good enough.
We need 20 outfield players the manager can turn to, and there are holes all over the squad before we even get to improving on the players we have. That means we canāt roll into next season with Endo and Chiesa, or lads from the academy who donāt even train with the seniors. 20 quality players.
When the whistle blew at Anfield last Sunday needed at least two wingers and a player who can cover for Ekitike this year. Thatās the bare minimum in attack. We also needed another midfielder - a deeper one who can progress the ball forward to replace Mac Allister.
Now Konate is leaving, so weāll need a defender. And weāre hearing that Bradleyās injury is worse than feared. Do add a centre back to the list.
Thatās a lot of work to do. In a World Cup summer. Three attackers, a midfielder, a centre back and a right back.
I donāt know who we get as wingers, and there are lots of links about. But I do know they have to be hard running and willing to put a big shift in. Thatās what we lost last summer and never replaced. I also think, as an older versatile player who can provide depth Bowen makes a lot of sense if we can get him a bit cheaper.
So thatās two, and preferably three, in addition to Gakpo, Ngumoha, Isak. (Forget Ekitike this season).
In midfield I canāt look past Adam Wharton, and Iād let Mac Allister go. Szoboslai, Gravenberch, Wharton, and Jones playing in the two deepest roles, with Nyoni as an option.
In defence, Van Hecke would be a dream signing but I think Brighton would want Ā£60m, and the club will be looking for a player who can cover a few years while Jaquet and Leoni establish a partnership (I also think the club have budgetted to bring back Quansah next summer). Senesi would have been perfect and available on a free but he looks set for Spurs. So it looks like thatās more money to spend.
Then weāre going to have to buy a right back. Frimpong has not convinced, and Bradley looks to be out for a long time still, I donāt see what choice we have. And please, no talk of Ramsay. He clearly needs to move on.
I just cannot see how we can do the business we need to do. To me it looks like another Ā£400-500m summer just to cover the holes.
Thank you Arne.
If the money is not available we have to improvise.
CB
VvD, Jacquet, Leoni, Gomez + have a close look at the three young CBs we signed in January.
Two new wingers can make a huge difference in our starting11. No compromises. We have to go as big as possible.
Szoboszlai can be the closest thing to Trent at RB if we work on it during preseason. Donāt think heās āuntouchableā in midfield - especially if we sign another CM and Harvey is allowed to stay.
Let Endo and Chiesa go but Curtis and Macca have to stay.
I suspect if Iraola does come in our squad is going to look fuller and healthier automatically with some marginalized players being found an effective use for
Left Gakpo out of both 11s but I have him nailed on to be our most improved player next season 
Your post more or less covers what Iāve been saying for the past few months, although not in as many words. Some people see it as a joke but theyāre in denial.
When you factor in those leaving, the crocks and those who clearly arenāt good enough then we need at least 10.
And thatās not to win the PL or any heady shit like that, thatās to challenge for top 5.
And this is why I find the purchases of Isak, Wirtz, Mamarashvili, and Frimpong particularly galling. After criminally letting go of so much depth, we squandered that money 
stead of spending it judiciously.
Itāll take at least two seasons to get close to getting back up to near the depth we have. And that includes deals in the winter windows. We will have to rely on a lot of up and coming players to fill the gaps int he squad.
I think we can partially close the gap by:
I will be open to selling Wirtz if he canāt fit into Iraolaās high-pace high-pressing system.
Arsenal have very good depth but they have no great players.
No Van Dijk or Salah or Alisson in their primes
There is no player in that side anyone will be talking about in 20 years
They are a system-first team. Their defense system (back four + CDMs) is unsurpassed. In the end, football is fundamentally a team game.
Van Dijk > Gabriel, but Gabriel is still a great CB, and Gabriel + Saliba > Van Dijk + X (X can include Matip, Gomez, Konateā¦). Also, Rice is better than our entire midfield and we should have bought him in 2022 - right now he is the best midfielder in PL.
In fact, Arteta has brought the idea of system to a new level.
our midfield is shite though
Complete bollocks
There is no way prime VVD + Matip is less than Gabriel + Saliba. In fact the 2020 PL winning versions of VVD and Gomez are MILES better than any Arsenal centre backs from them until now.
Arsenal are just a different brand of eye-gouging football.
We can and will do better.