Arsenal have earmarked a new striker as their priority signing ahead of the summer transfer window in a bid to further accelerate Mikel Arteta’s rebuilding project.
The Gunners have made a satisfactory start to the new season, but defeats against Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City have highlighted the deficiencies in Arteta’s squad.
Arsenal failed to score against the current league leaders, as well as the Premier League champions back in August, and although they found the back of the next twice in last night’s defeat at Old Trafford, neither Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang or late substitute Alexandre Lacazette made an impact.
Club captain Aubameyang appeared to be on the road to rediscovering his best form after a bright start to the new campaign following a fallow 2020/21 season, but he has now gone five games without a goal, missed his last two penalties and hasn’t scored away from home since May.
While Aubameyang is almost certain to remain at the Emirates given the lucrative contract he signed just over a year ago, Lacazette’s future is less certain with his deal set to expire in the summer and contract talks having stalled.
Eddie Nketiah, meanwhile, is in an identical contractual situation and is set to depart having rejected Arsenal’s latest proposal, while fellow highly-rated youngster, Folarin Balogun, appears likely to go out on loan in January having failed to make a first team appearance since September.
Given the situation with their current group of strikers, Arsenal are already planning for the summer market and, according to the Daily Mail, have identified Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin as their No.1 target.
The likely departure of Lacazette means the Gunners would comfortably be able to offer the England international an attractive salary, but must pay at least £60million to land the 24-year-old.
Everton, who are currently in a state of flux following the controversial appointment of Rafael Benitez, are determined to retain their prize asset but the Spaniard explained earlier this week that the club could be forced to sell.
He said: ‘Some clubs have sold players at the right time and with the money they received they improved the squad.
‘That is something we have to learn. The owner is ready to spend but we can’t spend all the time without bringing money back in. So I think we have to be clever in the future.’
Calvert-Lewin has only made three appearances this season due to injury, but isn’t expected to be back in action until the end of December at the earliest.
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