A highly-rated striker apparently “dreams” of playing for Arsenal, with interim sporting director Jason Ayto and his Gunners recruitment chiefs planning to make a summer bid for his services.
Arsenal shortlisting new forward targets for Mikel Arteta
Over the past few weeks, in terms of strikers linked with moves to Arsenal, Newcastle United star Alexander Isak, RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, Juventus forward Dusan Vlahovic, Sporting CP number nine Viktor Gyokeres, Eintracht Frankfurt ace Hugo Ekitike and even ex-Liverpool superstar Roberto Firmino have all been mentioned as potential targets by various sections of the press.
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Club tell “incredible” £70m forward wanted by Arsenal that he’s free to go
The Gunners are looking to next season for upgrades.
This comes after Arsenal failed to bring in a new number nine over the January window, a decision which now appears to be having serious repercussions on their Premier League title hopes.
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Arsenal’s next five Premier League games |
Date |
|---|---|
|
Nottingham Forest (away) |
February 26th |
|
Man Utd (away) |
March 9th |
|
Chelsea (home) |
March 16th |
|
Fulham (home) |
April 1st |
|
Everton (away) |
April 5th |
With Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus out for the rest of 2024/2025 through injury, manager Mikel Arteta is minus a world-class goalscorer in his side, and this was evident during their 1-0 defeat at home to West Ham United on Saturday.
Their title hopes were all but dashed last weekend, as Liverpool seized an 11-point lead at the top of the table with victory at Man City, so attention is already turning to the summer window ahead of another challenge for domestic glory next season.
Arsenal did have a chance to negotiate a £60 million move for Aston VIlla star Ollie Watkins in January, suggested reliable journalist David Ornstein recently, but it was an opportunity they ultimately didn’t take up.
“Villa gave Arsenal the opportunity to do this deal or have a conversation on the basis of a £60 million possibility,” said Ornstein, via The Athletic’s podcast on YouTube.
“That was something clearly Arsenal were not prepared to do at that value for a 29-year-old, who in their eyes is probably not worth that much. They decided to suggest around the £40m mark. Villa were being serious when they suggested £60 million because that’s where they value him and if they need to make the numbers work, with PSR and whatever else.”
Arsenal set to bid for Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins this summer
Now, an update has come to light on Arsenal’s interest in the England international.
As per Football Transfers, their fondness for Villa’s £130,000-per-week talisman remains, with Arsenal apparently set to bid for Watkins this summer. The 29-year-old, who’s a boyhood supporter of Arteta’s side, openly admitted in 2020 that his dream is to play for the north Londoners, and FT claim that this is very much still the centre-forward’s stance.
The former Brentford star boasts 13 goals from 36 appearances in all competitions this season, including strikes against Arsenal and Liverpool in the top flight.
“He is a terrific player – he has shown that for club and country now,” said former Man United defender Phil Jones.
“What I like about him is that he can come short and offer that dynamic, but he can also go in behind. He is a real handful and he is quite comfortable playing on the shoulder of the defender.”
