Arsenal chiefs have just been handed a boost in their pursuit of a forward target, as his club make their stance over a summer sale clear behind-the-scenes.
Premier League title hopes fade for Arsenal after 1-0 West Ham defeat
Mikel Arteta watched on from the sidelines as his Gunners side fell to a 1-0 home defeat against West Ham United on Saturday afternoon, courtesy of a sole strike from Jarrod Bowen, with the result now leaving them 11 points adrift of frontrunners Liverpool.
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The Gunners have been approached with an intriguing proposal.
Arsenal could close that margin to eight points with their game in hand, but it would arguably take a miracle for Arteta’s side to catch Liverpool in the race now, considering the Merseysiders’ excellent form all season, and the fact we’re now at the business end of the Premier League campaign.
|
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 |
The north Londoners have been hamstrung by injuries to key attacking players recently, with Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli unavailable until March, while both Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus are out for the rest of this season.
Arteta could be ruing their missed chance to bring in a top-class forward in the January transfer window as a result, with Arsenal having a low-ball £40 million offer for Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins rejected last month (David Ornstein).
Various reports have claimed that Arsenal are targeting a new forward this summer instead, and many high-profile names are being linked at the moment, including Newcastle United star Alexander Isak, RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, Juventus forward Dušan Vlahović, Sporting CP number nine Viktor Gyokeres, Eintracht Frankfurt ace Hugo Ekitiké and even ex-Liverpool talisman Roberto Firmino.
Arteta also reportedly wants an alternative to Saka and Martinelli out wide. Indeed, an intriguing name to look out for in this regard is Borussia Dortmund sensation Jamie Gittens.
The Englishman, formerly of Chelsea and Man City’s academies, has impressed since moving to the Bundesliga for first-team football. This season, Gittens boasts 11 goals and four assists in all competitions, which has attracted interest from the Premier League’s elite.
Borussia Dortmund tell Arsenal target Jamie Gittens he’s free to leave
According to The Boot Room and journalist Graeme Bailey, Arteta could be free to make a move for the 20-year-old this summer, as Dortmund give the green-light to a potential sale.
As per their information, Dortmund have informed Gittens that they will allow him to leave, and Arsenal could emerge as favourites to secure his signature – ahead of English rival quartet Tottenham, Chelsea, Manchester City and Aston Villa.
A return to his homeland also holds appeal to Gittens, with Dortmund setting his price tag at around £70 million.
This comes as another bit of good news for Arsenal, considering other reports suggested Gittens’ price tag was closer to £83 million. The left-winger’s form has been praised by those close to him, with ex-Dortmund head coach Nuri Şahin branding him an “incredible” one-v-one forward.
