We are currently in the midst of yet another international break, meaning Arsenal aren't in action until next month when they travel to Selhurst Park to play Crystal Palace.
That means there are plenty of transfer rumours floating around, with a number of top-class centre-forwards linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners are in need of a prolific frontman after allowing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to leave the club in January whilst Eddie Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette are both into the final four months of their contracts with the club.
And another name that has recently been linked with a move to north London is Croatian youngster Roko Simic. Here, football.london brings you everything you need to know about Simic and what world-class strikers he has been compared to.
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Who is Roko Simic?
Aged just 18, Simic is a talented forward born in Milan, Italy. He is the son of former footballer Dario Simic and was born during his father's stint with AC Milan, where he won two UEFA Champions League titles in the mid-2000s.
Roko is a commanding centre-forward, currently plying his trade with FC Liefering, on loan from RB Salzburg in the Austrian second division.
Why would Arsenal want him?
Simic is a strong, powerful striker and has been likened to both Erling Haaland and Dusan Vlahovic in his play-style, the latter of which Arsenal pushed hard to sign during the January transfer window before the player chose Juventus instead. football.london understands that the Gunners could look to bring in two forwards this summer and signing someone like Simic, as well as a more experienced option makes a lot of sense for the club.
The teenager is still raw and has a lot of room to develop but his potential is extremely high, netting 12 goals in just 16 league outings this season. Standing at 190cm (6 ft 3 ins), the 18-year-old is also a huge aerial threat, something that the north Londoners have missed in attack since Olivier Giroud's departure in 2018.
The likes of Kieran Tierney and Bukayo Saka both regularly provide pin-point crosses into the box, although the aforementioned Lacazette poses little real threat in the air. Perhaps the addition of a player like Simic could help add a new dynamic to Mikel Arteta's side.
What has been said?
Former Everton striker Nikica Jelavic has previously heaped praise on his compatriot, claiming that he will one day be a world-class No.9. "Roko is certainly one of the greatest talents in Croatian football", Jelavic said last year.
"That’s for sure, he’s a young and decent guy, brilliantly brought up and he's a real rough diamond. He is gaining experience, I played with him and as one of the older players, we helped him along.
"Everyone knows who he is because of his famous father, but that's a burden that will shortly be off his back because he's good enough to write his own story. I am convinced that Roko will make a great career and that he will be a world-class striker, I really haven't seen a more talented player than Roko for a long time."
