The top clubs always need to be on the lookout for the best talent both available and coming through the pipeline across the world. Millions are invested into trying to acquire these stars and Arsenal have had great success with Gabriel Martinelli, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes to name but a few.
However, with Arsenal now looking to establish itself at the top, the level of player they’re aiming for also arguably needs to level up and sporting director Edu should prepare to battle with those dining at the top table of the market. Manchester City added Erling Haaland to the squad this summer and have benefited from his massive goal haul throughout the season.
Mikel Arteta has staved off Haaland and City’s attempts to ‘reel them in’ as the striker put it himself, and added in the January window to reinforce their push for the title. In the summer, discussions about how Arsenal can add their own transformative figure for the long-term future to different areas of the squad will surely take place.
READ MORE: Eddie Nketiah and Folarin Balogun both face summer Arsenal exit question after £27m transfer
One returning player will be Folarin Balogun. The striker has been on loan with Reims and is scoring for fun with 17 goals to his name in Ligue 1, bordering on the record for the amount scored by an English player.
However, he arrives back in north London behind both Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah with no immediate pathway past either. Stylistically there are similarities between both and this creates a dilemma for the club with reported interest from both Milan clubs with Inter Live suggesting the Gunners could ask for as much as €40m (£35.2m).
A sale of Balogun could fund a potential acquisition in the same area to provide the Gunners with an alternative option in the forward line. For some time many have suggested that Arsenal look to add some physicality to their forward options and the current 6ft 1in star on the rise after his hat-trick for Denmark is Rasmus Hojlund.
Even described by some as the ‘next Erling Haaland’ the 20-year-old has been having a solid season with Atalanta although not yet putting in the same numbers as Haaland or even Balogun yet. However, the talent has been identified very early and the Gunners are reportedly one of his admirers.
Arsenal had a £70m bid rejected for Moises Caicedo in January before signing Jorginho for just £12m indicating there will be serious money to spend in the summer in addition to anything the club make in player sales. Striker, centre-midfield and full-back appear areas of interest and Hojlund might become a louder name as we approach the summer transfer window.
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