Arsenal have already secured five additions to their squad this summer, but it appears manager Mikel Arteta still wants more quality signings before the transfer window shuts.
According to Give Me Sport, West Ham United attacking midfielder Jarrod Bowen and his Bayern Munich counterpart Leroy Sane are both on the Gunners’ radar, while popular transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has told Caught Offside that PSV Eindhoven midfielder Cody Gakpo is very much a wanted man at The Emirates Stadium.
What do Arsenal need?
The acquisitions of Fabio Vieira, Marquinhos, Matt Turner, Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko have cost Arsenal slightly more than £100million, and they could still be spending more than that to have any chance of landing the aforementioned trio.
Arteta’s men narrowly missed out on a top-four finish last season – ending 2021-22 in fifth place and two points behind fierce city rivals Tottenham Hotspur – and a return to Europe’s elite competition for the first time since 2015-16 will be their top mission when the new campaign starts.
Landing someone like Bowen will be massive for the North Londoners after his heroics for West Ham last term saw him earn a maiden England call-up, but it could prove very tricky.
CBS journalist Ben Jacobs told GMS that Arsenal have made an enquiry about the 25-year-old, but the Hammers insist he is not for sale at any price.
Bowen scored 12 goals and assisted grateful teammates 10 times in 36 Premier League games last season, and it is clear to see why the Gunners are keen on recruiting him.
The former Hull City star will surely help improve the side in the final third, and having him and Bukayo Saka on opposite wings would be too much for defences to handle.
However, the Hammers will play hardball over any deal, and it would take a huge fee to tempt them into parting ways with one of their most prized possessions.
With both teams set to challenge for the Champions League spots next season, strengthening a direct rival will be the last thing on the minds of those at West Ham, and Arteta may have to look elsewhere.
PSV reportedly want around £38million for Gakpo, 23, and should Arsenal decide to stump up the cash, they could still face stiff competition in the race for the Dutchman given his huge talents.
The versatile attacker ended last term with 12 goals and 13 assists in 27 Eredivisie games, and the Gunners could do with such a return in the attacking third.
Sane left Manchester City for regular playing chances at Bayern, but he has not been able to establish himself in the Bundesliga giants’ starting XI, and the arrival of Sadio Mane from Liverpool could further limit his opportunities.
Despite starting just 22 league games last term, the Germany international scored seven goals and made another seven.
Could a return to the Premier League tempt him if Arsenal can guarantee him regular playing chances?
Arteta knows Sane well from his coaching days at Man City, and that could help in talks should they take place.
Signing one, two or even all three players will be a massive boost for Arsenal’s top-four chances, but with the quality of attacking options currently at their disposal following some solid transfer businesses so far this window, it would not be surprising should they end up without any more additions up front.
