Arsenal report: €70m striker sensation closing in as first summer signing: report
Arsenal are moving for a new striker to lead the line next season, following fresh reports of targets being lined up
Arsenal are looking at bringing a €70 million striker to the Emirates Stadium this summer to fix their issues up front.
The weekend saw Mikel Arteta shuffle his pack in attack, preferring Gabriel Jesus as his No.9 with Kai Havertz behind in midfield. The Brazilian struggled ahead of the German, as Arsenal succumbed to a 2-0 loss at home to Aston Villa, highlighting a severe weakness in the depth at Arteta's fingertips.
Jesus has been blighted with injuries in his second campaign in north London, with Eddie Nketiah failing to get much of a chance in attack this season, either. Havertz has been favoured – but Arsenal lack a Plan B.
Gazzetta dello Sport has today reported that Arsenal are still chasing Bologna star Joshua Zirkzee, a leftfield choice from the nine-figure striking talents of Ivan Toney and Victor Osimhen previously touted for a move to N5.
Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio has previously revealed that Arteta and co. are offering the Dutch hitman £115,000 a week to move to the Premier League, in a move that would likely see him play as a rotational option around the likes of Havertz, Jesus and wingers Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.
In FourFourTwo's view, the move is extremely likely to happen – and we even tipped Arsenal to make it earlier this month – but it could hinge on price.
With Bologna enjoying a superb season under Thiago Motta, there are plenty of suitors for Zirkzee – and Arsenal have been touted by some to have to pay €70m for the 22-year-old, should they wish to bring him in.
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Zirkzee is valued at €40m by Transfermarkt.
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Arsenal are about to replace Oleksandr Zinchenko following the Ukrainian's bad performance against Aston Villa. One wonderkid could be about to leave too, with Gabriel Jesus set for a departure.
The Gunners could sign a controversial striker, however, while Joshua Kimmich has been linked. Former vice-chairman David Dein, meanwhile, has shared a story of how the Invincibles would intimidate their opponents.
Mark White is the Digital Content Editor at FourFourTwo. During his time on the brand, Mark has written three cover features on Mikel Arteta, Martin Odegaard and the Invincibles, and has written pieces on subjects ranging from Sir Bobby Robson’s time at Barcelona to the career of Robinho. An encyclopedia of football trivia and collector of shirts, he first joined the team back in 2020 as a staff writer.