Representatives of one Arsenal target have been left ‘surprised’ by recent reports that the club could submit a bid this summer.
Right now, it seems as if Arsenal are beginning to ramp up their summer transfer plans, aiming to provide Mikel Arteta with a squad capable of winning the league.
Last season, it wasn’t necessarily the quality of Arsenal’s starting XI that let them down, but perhaps there wasn’t enough strength in depth.
Edu’s signings last summer, Kai Havertz, Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber and David Raya, all improved the starting team, but now Arsenal’s sporting director has a new challenge.
Arteta is said to desire the addition of a central midfielder, a left-back and a forward.
And whilst all three will need to be good enough to start games anyway, they will be intended as signings to improve the squad overall.
Arteta seemingly didn’t feel as if he could rotate his eleven last season, the likes of William Saliba and Bukayo Saka, which may have led to fatigue playing a part in crucial moments.
That being said, PSV Eindhoven winger Johan Bakayoko is now being touted as Arsenal’s new Saka alternative, someone who can help take the pressure off the English winger.
Johan Bakayoko’s agents ‘surprised’ by reports that Arsenal could make summer bid
Bakayoko has been heavily linked with Arsenal in recent days, said to have a price tag of around £51m.
And to that end, Dutch journalist Marco Timmer has now provided some insight into the situation over on X.
The journalist explained that amid all the public links to Arsenal, Bakayoko’s entourage were surprised by the news, given the two parties hadn’t been in contact for a year.
Timmer said: “A little more about Bakayoko and Arsenal. The player’s entourage was surprised by the news in the media because the last time there was contact between the parties was a year ago.
“It is clear that Bakayoko only wants to go to a club where the chance of playing time is very high…”
And although Arsenal have been told there’s a ‘very high’ chance that Bakayoko leaves PSV this summer, it seems any interest from north London is still very early.
Bakayoko may not be happy at Arsenal
Of course, the additional information that the journalist provided regarding Bakayoko’s desired playing time is also prevalent to any Arsenal move for Bakayoko.
As mentioned, the Belgian winger would be arriving in north London as Saka’s understudy, perhaps also given chances on the left.
But for anyone who has watched Bakayoko regularly, they will be aware that his Arjen Robben like style would be wasted if he couldn’t cut onto his left foot, explaining the similarities to Saka.
The PSV man would be a brilliant addition to Arsenal’s squad, but only if he was willing to accept a squad role initially.
That being said, Joshua Kimmich would also be a superb signing for the club this summer.
And given news that Kimmich wants to join Arsenal, Edu should be wasting no time.