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A new striker has long been among Arsenal’s top priorities this summer as Mikel Arteta strives to take the Gunners to the next level.
Concerns over whether Gabriel Jesus, who admits scoring goals is not his strength, is good enough to lead the line for a title contender have led to reports that the Brazil international could be sold this summer.
The resurgence of Kai Havertz, whose best position still remains a mystery, has reduced the need for a new goalscorer but Arsenal’s squad is still crying out for a bona-fide goalscorer who can really elevate the squad.
Here are five players Arsenal could look to if they choose to replace Jesus this summer.
Few players have seen their stock rise as much in the 2023/24 season as Bologna’s Joshua Zirkzee, who has been making good on the wonderkid status that was attributed to him a few years ago.
The Dutchman left Bayern Munich in 2022 and has now established himself as a well-rounded force in front of goal. He’s impressed for Thiago Motta’s overachievers, racking up the goals but also flexing the sort of build-up play that appealed to Arteta when he moved to sign both Jesus and Havertz.
Bologna are unlikely to demand silly money for 22-year-old Zirkzee who, in a summer which will be full of big-money moves for strikers, could end up being a real bargain.
Inter struck gold when they landed Marcus Thuram on a free transfer last summer. The France international is comfortably in double-figures for both goals and assists, excelling alongside talisman Lautaro Martinez.
Now, Inter have no desire to sell Thuram, but the Serie A champions are battling some well-known financial troubles which could see them forced to cash in on one of their top names this summer. Few players could generate the sort of profit that would come from selling Thuram just 12 months after he joined for free.
Reports have even suggested Inter director Piero Ausilio is an enormous fan of Jesus, so a swap deal could be on the cards if Arsenal play their cards right.
When a striker reaches 40 goals in a single season across all competitions, teams like Arsenal stand up and take notice, and that is exactly what has happened with Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres.
The Sweden striker has tormented defenders in Portugal under Ruben Amorim and is a real candidate to leave in the summer, but Arsenal need to decide just how much they want to pay for their new striker.
Gyokeres’ £86m release clause is steep – 90min understands suitors like Arsenal fear it may not be value for money – but the Gunners do have that sort of money to play with.
If Arsenal are going to spend big money on a Swedish striker, they may prefer to throw their cash at Newcastle United for Alexander Isak.
What you get with 24-year-old Isak is confidence over his ability to score goals in the Premier League. He’s already well over 20 goals in all competitions this year for a Newcastle side who have fallen slightly short of expectations, so imagine what he could do in a more stable attacking unit?
Newcastle have their own financial worries to deal with but 90min understands they are prepared to put up a real fight to keep Isak. However, if things don’t go their way and Newcastle end up getting desperate, Arsenal may be able to swoop in and get a deal done.
Let’s go a bit rogue with this last suggestion and throw out a player whose style of play is similar to Havertz – AC Milan’s Charles De Ketelaere.
The lanky forward 23-year-old, who plays as a midfielder, winger and central striker, struggled when he joined Milan but is enjoying an impressive campaign with Atalanta, for whom he played primarily at the top of the team sheet.
Atalanta have the option to buy De Ketelaere permanently for around £20m but may jump at the chance to make a quick profit if Arsenal make the right sort of offer.
