The clamour for Arsenal to sign a centre forward grows by the day as discussions continue for sporting director Andrea Berta with multiple targets. football.londondiscussed at the beginning of the window how the Italian would change the club’s approach to deals and of course it is coming up with the goods.
Three deals are expected to be announced at the start of July, while a fourth is in the works amid an agreement on personal terms with Cristhian Mosquera. Yet, for both Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres, understood to be the two leading candidates for the position, the wait goes on.
Arsenal will return for pre-season training the week commencing July 7, while they fly to Asia for a tour and three friendly fixtures with AC Milan, Newcastle United and Tottenham on July 19. Having the striker in before those games is the club’s aim but, football.london understands they will not panic-buy and want to get the best deal in order to help give them manoeuvrability for other transfers this window.
Kai Havertz is also a factor in all this. The German international returned to the side at the end of the last season, having missed around half the campaign with a hamstring injury. Much has been made of his improved stature upon his return and Arteta is known to be a big fan of him.
Whoever arrives in the summer window, be it Gyokeres, Sesko, or someone else, there is a very big chance that Havertz will remain the starter come the start of the season. The manager trusts him and, despite what some critics might say, he is still a very good forward player for this team, as the numbers show.
The window is not offering up the Declan Rice of strikers for Arsenal to sign that would have unequivocally ended the debate about who starts at number nine. Alexander Isak is that player but it is not believed the Swede will leave Newcastle United this summer.
It means that the existing option at a club who are consistently challenging for titles, reaching the latter stages of the Champions League and breaking club records while doing it have a good player in each role. Havertz will be at the club next season, and adding another option in his role is not just necessary but very exciting for the team’s prospects for the season.
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