Arsenal have drawn up a shortlist of seven potential signings to end the club’s search for a centre-forward.
Mikel Arteta has made the signing of a number nine the club’s focus for the summer transfer window. The Gunners have seen their title challenge derailed in the absence of a recognised forward, after Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz were ruled out for the remainder of the campaign.
Goalless games against West Ham and Nottingham Forest have left the North Londoners 16 points behind leaders Liverpool, heading into Sunday’s clash with Manchester United.
The club’s recruitment team are busy working on preparations for the summer. According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins features on a seven-striker shortlist for the upcoming window. Arsenal failed with a £60m bid to sign the England international in the January transfer window.
Alongside Watkins, fellow Premier League forwards Alexander Isak and Liam Delap are under consideration. The former has scored 50 goals in 76 league appearances since signing for Newcastle, who would demand a British transfer record fee for his services. Delap has impressed this season in his first full campaign in the top flight. The 22-year-old has scored 10 league goals in a struggling Ipswich side.
Benjamin Sesko remains an option for Arsenal after a failed move to sign the striker last summer. The 21-year-old has a release clause between €70m and €80m at RB Leipzig.
Elsewhere, an ambitious move for Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez is being weighed up, alongside a more straightforward deal for Jonathan David, who is out of contract at Lille at the end of the campaign. The Canadian has scored 20+ goals in three straight seasons for the French side.
The final name on the shortlist is Samu Aghehowa. The Spain international came close to signing for Chelsea last summer, before joining Porto from Atletico Madrid. The 20-year-old has netted 20 goals in 32 appearances for the Portuguese side this season.
