Arsenal are stepping-up their attempts to give Mikel Arteta the number one thing he needs this summer. A striker.
On the back of three straight second-placed finishes in the Premier League, the pressure on the Gunners boss is greater than it has been in the previous five years.
Despite that, the north Londoners are in a good position to challenge next season. Martin Zubimendi has been a deal in the works since January but the focus is on strengthening in attack.
Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko are two players strongly linked to bolster Arsenal’s centre-forward options. Recent reports have suggested the Gunners have been unsuccessful with a bid for Gyokeres while others have suggested negotiations have opened with RB Leipzig for Sesko.
The transfer window has only been open for two days and the Gunners will be desperate to wrap up a deal sooner rather than later. Once a new striker is through the door, attention will swiftly turn to further bolstering Arteta’s squad and reports are suggesting that could see another forward arrive.
According to CaughtOffside, Arsenal have scouted Paris Saint-Germain forward Bradley Barcola. The 22-year-old, who recently helped the French giants win the Champions League for the first time in their history, has attracted interest from Tottenham and Manchester City.
All three teams have reportedly scouted the forward extensively in recent months. Barcola has scored 21 goals and assisted a further 19 in PSG’s treble winning campaign with him a possible replacement for Gabriel Martinelli.
Unfortunately, sources close to the newly-crowned European champions have claimed that the versatile forward will cost over €100million-€120m (£84.2m-£101.1m) due to his current ability and potential for their long-term project.
If Andrea Berta and Arsenal decided against investing in Barcola, they could still push ahead with their interest in Nico Williams. The Spain international has a release clause in his Athletic Bilbao contract worth €60m-€80m (£50.5m-£67.3m), significantly less than Barcola and someone Arteta has been a fan of for some time.
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