Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Football London
Football London
Sport
Tom Coley

Yeremy Pino has shown Arsenal why they should pick him and leave Gakpo to Manchster Untited

Versatile attacker. Right footed. Playing in a European league. 23 and under. Highly-rated. Premier League rivals also interested. Price tag around £50m.

That's the filters on Arsenal's current transfer search and it has two key names at the top of the list. Yeremy Pino and Cody Gakpo. Both of them are being pursed by the Gunners this window and, unlike Youri Tielemans, there is no desire to let these moves extend into next summer.

Mikel Arteta wants an extra attacking reinforcement, and he wants it now. He can sense the progress that has been made already this summer and doesn't want to let a good chance go to waste. The summer window has already been good for Arsenal, but if they could add one of their target attackers and maybe an extra central midfielder too, then it would become a brilliant one that truly sets the Gunners up for the season.

READ MORE: Mikel Arteta moving closer to dream Arsenal squad as double transfer exit looms

They haven't been short of making attempts either but as we enter the final three weeks of the window there is increased pressure on getting these deals done. There is also plenty of competition for both Gakpo and Pino so any hesitation in the market could be costly.

The 19-year-old Villarreal winger is the most advanced deal, with Arsenal reportedly putting in a £34m bid for the player which, according to Spanish publication AS, could be accepted despite the forward's much higher release clause at £67m. Due to financial troubles for Unai Emery's side they could be forced into accepting a lower offer, and this would move Arsenal ahead of Liverpool in the running for him, with Pino also a target for Jurgen Klopp's side.

The longer-standing interest is actually in Gakpo though. The 23-year-old is more established than Pino, with double the amount of professional matches played and three times as many goal contributions. That does come down to his age though. Being four years older, Gakpo is more experienced and has a built-up reputation as one of the Eredivisie's best players, winning Dutch footballer of the year last season.

Gakpo is the less risky deal but could be more expensive with a reported £50m price tag being put on him and like with Pino there is Premier League interest. It is understood that at least five clubs would like to sign him this summer, with Leeds making a move first. Manchester United are tipped to be the strongest contenders to Arsenal though.

Although competition for the players is unlikely to deter Arsenal, there has already been a decisive piece of action that could sway their minds when it comes to choosing which player they would most like to sign. During a coincidental friendly between PSV Eindhoven and Villarreal the two players were set to come up against each other. Gakpo didn't play in the game though, but Arsenal got a sighting of Pino, who scored the equalising goal for his side as they came out on top in a 2-1 victory.

The youngster, who missed both legs of Villarreal's Champions League semi-final against Liverpool with an injury, has also shown what he is capable of in England. He scored a brilliant diving header against Southampton at St Mary's in another 2-1 win this summer.

Pino is raw but he is also capable of playing across the front-three and has plenty of room to be developed by Arteta, and although Gakpo is also young, Pino's early breakthrough into a more established European side could give him the edge when it comes to the key moment of picking between them this summer.

READ NEXT:

Stan Kroenke and Mikel Arteta sent contrasting message as Arsenal transfer approach is justified

Emile Smith Rowe to benefit from double announcement and Arsenal's Europa League return

Pino starts, Jesus focal - Mikel Arteta's dream Arsenal attack with Odegaard and Smith Rowe fit

Yeremy Pino makes Cristiano Ronaldo admission amid Arsenal transfer links

Michael Knighton wealth compared to Kroenke, Boehly and Lewis as Man United ready takeover bid

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.