Arsenal are now the favourites to sign a striker who has been compared to Ronaldinho and Dennis Bergkamp.
Mikel Arteta and Edu are currently plotting how to break the 90-point barrier after narrowly missing out on another Premier League title to Manchester City, with attacking reinforcements seemingly on the agenda.
That is despite the fact the Gunners impressively scored 91 goals in 38 Premier League games throughout the 2023/24 campaign – so perhaps a senior figure, like Gabriel Jesus, could depart.
Nevertheless, let’s take a look at who Arsenal are – supposedly – now favourites to sign…
Arsenal frontrunners to sign Joshua Zirkzee
Bologna No.9 Joshua Zirkzee is seemingly in Arsenal’s sights.
Italian journalist Daniele Galosso of Tuttosport spoke to TV Play’s Ti Amo Calciomercato show about the Gunners and the Netherlands U21 international, where a very interesting comment was made.
He said: “On Zirkzee, however, the competition is high. From what we understand, Arsenal has the advantage for the Dutchman.”
It comes as no surprise to see Arsenal show admiration for the 22-year-old, who has been compared to Bergkamp.
Zirkzee enjoyed a brilliant 2023/24 campaign, scoring 11 goals – while also providing five assists – in 34 Serie A appearances as Bologna remarkably qualified for the UEFA Champions League under Thiago Motta.
On the topic of Motta, Bologna’s 41-year-old tactician even compared Zirkzee to Ronaldinho of all players, saying: “He said that his idols are Ibrahimovic and Batistuta, who are two excellent players. Seeing him day to day, he reminds me of the Ronaldinho I played with at Barcelona.”
How much the Dutchman could cost Arsenal
Despite a standout 2023/24 campaign, Bologna do not seem to be in a position where they can charge over the odds for Zirkzee.
That is because – according to Corriere dello Sport – there is a €40m (£34m) release clause written into the forward’s contract at Bologna, which is a relatively low sum of money in the modern market.
If Zirkzee can translate his Serie A form into the Premier League – at the age of just 22, no less – we’re confident Arsenal could almost triple his value if a £34m deal does materialise this summer.