Arsenal are gearing up for a busy summer transfer window as they look to finally claim the Premier League title, with a new striker at the top of Mikel Arteta’s shopping list
Mikel Arteta’s full focus will be on overturning Arsenal’s current deficit to PSG in their Champions League semi-final next week. But Gunners’ sporting director Andrea Berta is already setting plans in place for this summer’s transfer window.
Berta is thought to be gearing up for a busy few months in the market. Boss Arteta is keen to bring in the players who can help Arsenal finally get over the line in their search for a first Premier League title since 2004.
The London side spent nearly £95million in last summer’s transfer window, though their signings have mostly failed to live up to expectations. That means the upcoming market will be a crucial one.
Top of the shopping list is a new striker, with Gabriel Jesus falling out of favour and Kai Havertz not regarded as a top-level forward. One player on the shortlist is Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres.
Gyokeres is being tracked by many of Europe’s top clubs but Arsenal have now received a major boost in their pursuit of him. Here, Mirror Football rounds up all the latest Gunners transfer news.
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Calafiori set for shock exit
Riccardo Calafiori only arrived at Arsenal last summer in a £42million move from Bologna but a disappointing debut season has left him already edging towards the exit door. A knee injury disrupted his progress but he has also struggled to adapt to England.
According to MilanLive, the Gunners are now ready to listen to offers for the 22-year-old. A tentative price tag of £30m has been set on the defender’s head, with Juventus said to be ‘seriously considering’ a move.
AC Milan are ready to rival Juve for the Italian international’s signature, with the Rossoneri considering the possibility of a swap deal. Malick Thiaw and Fikayo Tomori are both considered to be potential makeweights.
Arteta has Saliba ‘confidence’
Mikel Arteta has insisted he is ‘very confident’ that William Saliba will remain at Arsenal beyond this summer. The Frenchman has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid, but Arteta believes he will remain a Gunners player.
“I leave those kind of things more for Andrea (Berta) and the club to talk about. What I’m certain about because I have the conversation with him is that he’s so happy here, he wants to continue with us,” he said.
“What will happen in the future always is with negotiations something that takes time and process and to be on top of them. But I am confident William is very happy here and that’s the place he wants to be.”
Gyokeres boost
Arsenal have emerged as the frontrunners to sign Sporting Lisbon star Viktor Gyokores. The Swedish striker is being tracked by many of Europe’s top clubs having created a fearsome reputation in front of goal in Portugal.
According to A Bola, the Gunners have edged ahead of Liverpool and Manchester City in the race to sign Gyokeres. New sporting director Andrea Berta is said to be a ‘big fan’ of the 26-year-old.
Sporting have set a price tag of £85m on Gyokeres and are said to be ‘resistant’ to any offer below that. It is currently unknown if Arsenal are willing to spend such a high amount though they are stepping up their pursuit.
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