HITC is told that Arsenal are focused on backing Mikel Arteta this summer with an attacker and midfielder their prime focus.
We have already revealed and confirmed that Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi is their top target to come into midfield with Douglas Luiz looking set to remain at Aston Villa – but in attack they are looking around and sporting director Edu is working on the best options for Arteta.
Edu saw Arsenal miss out on a deal for Brazilian starlet Marcos Leonardo in January, but work is ongoing other who they might turn to this summer.
Newcastle’s Alexander Isak and Napoli’s Victor Osimhen are two players who HITC understands Arsenal are huge fans of, but neither deal is particular easy. Newcastle – who could lose Bruno Guimaraes this summer – are fighting hard to keep Isak. It is understood that they would consider offering him a new deal to make him the club’s highest paid player to put off any suitors this summer.
Osimhen is a player they have been following since he moved to Napoli – but HITC can now confirm that Paris Saint-German are growing increasingly confident of winning the race to land the Nigerian – which will be a huge blow to Arsenal’s London rivals Chelsea who have been and are still pushing hard for him.
Brentford’s Ivan Toney, RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, Bologna’s Joshua Zirkzee and Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres have all been assessed as part of Arsenal’s assessment of their options.
Dusan Vlahovic remains one of Arsenal’s best options
But HITC is told that their scouting department keeps coming back to Vlahovic and we understand they still regard the 24-year-old as one of their best options to bolster their attacking options.
Arsenal are long-term admirers of Vlahovic and just missed out on landing him when he joined Juventus in 2022.
The Serbian has enjoyed his best season to date in Turin despite some struggles for Juve themselves with 15 goals to his name so far.
Juventus are set to change manager and part ways with Max Allegri, and with Bologna’s Thiago Motta on course to replace him – that could have an impact on Vlahovic’s future and it is understood binging in Zirkzee is something on the agenda.
Arsenal – as HITC revealed in January – were already keeping close tabs on Vlahovic’s contract talks which began last year, but are still yet to see an agreement reached and this has not gone unnoticed in North London.
Juventus are looking for Vlahovic – whose contract expires in 2026 – to extend for another two-years as they want to spread out his sizeable wage packet – but if nothing is agreed,
Juve are working on Vlahovic, but they are also locked in talks with Adrien Rabiot and Federico Chiesa.
Rabiot’s deal expires this summer, whilst Chiesa’s contract is up in 2025.
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