With pre-season just around the corner, is there enough time to sign a striker?
The announcement of Kepa Arrizabalaga’s transfer from Chelsea is set to open the floodgates to a number of key additions. The midfield duo of Christian Nørgaard and Martin Zubimendi are set to follow suit in the coming days. The signing of Cristhian Mosquera is also gathering momentum, while the club have opened negotiations with Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze.
The beginning of July has certainly brought excitement for supporters. However, an important move continues to be far from certain. The Gunners are widely expected to make a marquee signing at centre-forward. The club’s recent struggles in front of goal have exacerbated the need to address this problem area. A signing in that position has been long overdue, making it the utmost priority this summer.
Striker wanted before Asia tour, but clock is ticking
Despite the pressing need, the club have failed to make a signing amid various conflicting reports. Mikel Arteta has made his stance clear, with credible reports citing his preference to have a striker on board before the tour of Asia.
Preparations for the new season commence in just over two weeks, and the club are currently heading to Asia without a new centre-forward. The first game of pre-season is against AC Milan on the 23rd of July, but the squad will jet off to Singapore four days earlier. Arteta reportedly wants a player in before then, but will there be enough time to complete a deal? It is firmly in the realm of possibility, but the clock is ticking.
Complicated negotiations hinder progress
There are genuine concerns over the club’s capability to pull off a move. Historically, Arsenal have struggled to sign big names early. The complicated situations surrounding Viktor Gyökeres and Benjamin Šeško are also stifling efforts.
Their respective situations are exactly why Arsenal are unlikely to sign a number nine before the 19th of July. Sporting’s dispute with Gyökeres likely means a deal could drag on until the end of the window, as both parties decide to wait it out.
Šeško’s situation is arguably more complex. The club are finding it difficult to agree personal terms due to the player’s high wage demands. In addition, talks with RB Leipzig have stalled due to their own valuation. The German side are not willing to lower their asking price, reported to be between €80-100 million, which has left Arsenal frustrated.
Given that Leipzig are without European football next season, they are in need of a cash injection this summer. The Germans are holding off on a move currently, but they are widely expected to come around towards the end of the window. The Gunners could wait, but at what cost? The 19th of July is just around the corner, but things could still fall into place. Signing either of the two main targets is well within the club’s capabilities, but time is running out.
Whether the club pull it off remains to be seen, but in my opinion, the signing of a centre-forward will come late in the window and after pre-season.
That is my opinion. I would love to get your contributions in the comments. Will the club pull it off?
Benjamin Kenneth
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I guess Arsenal will only splash the cash on the new CF after Saka and Saliba sign their new contracts
Spending £70m for a new CF when Saka and Saliba could leave would be a reckless move
I see the logic in that, but I don’t think Arsenal will risk going into the 2025-26 season, surely the pivotal one for the club (certainly for Arteta), without a proven striker, regardless of the contract position of other players.
There just isn’t anyone at the club who can do that role successfully. Havertz isn’t a prolific goal scorer, and at his age isn’t likely to become one now, and Jesus, well enough said there I think.
I hope you’re right, but Fabrizio Romano only tells the stories about Arsenal’s interests in Eze and Madueke nowadays
We don’t hear about Sesko and Gyokeres anymore
My money is on Jackson. CFC hired the Brighton lad Joao I’m told. CFC need cash, we need a CF, deal done. Rest is all a smoke screen i feel. If anybody in their right mind thinks that Mikel will hire a prolific striker with a big name (big ego is the handbag he will carry for sure), then that person has failed to learn Mikel over the years. Noni or Nkunklu would not surprise me either. Lets be the CFC discard team aiming to be second to the EPL winners, and that will be an achievement and a fulfilling season. So folks, fasten your seatbelts and wear your 3D lenses (for me I’ve bought the rose tinted ones, so everything looks rosy ) and be ready for the season.
Nicolas Jackson would likely rotate with Joao Pedro for the CF role at Chelsea, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Arsenal loan Joao Felix or Nkunku from Chelsea to replace Trossard
@Gai I don’t think these two would represent better profile than Trossard. Trossard on his day is a skillful good finisher. Just his age concern iimo, I don’t rate Nkuku or Felix better at least based on Epl performance
@ Gai, t would be unthinkable for Arsenal to not sign a striker because Saka and Saliba are stalling in their contract. I mean what would they be smoking at Emirate?
Why would it be a reckless move? Arsenal need a striker in any case. Evidently, we want to get those two to sign their contracts but the club has to keep building even if players leave.
Im struggling to fathom that also. So we sell our best two players and then dont buy a cf ? We would generate 250 million pound plus for the pair then not get any new players in.
Saka and Saliba would likely want salary increase
Arsenal wouldn’t be able to fulfill such demand if the new CF gets an exorbitant salary
If so, then perhaps stop paying massive salaries to average players.
Neither Havertz or Jesus will be starters, but both earning over 250k per week. How much more for Trossard to sit on the bench?
I know we need depth, but 2nd and 3rd choice strikers on the bench earning well over 500k a week combined? Poor planning and management.
Should have sold Jesus last Summer when we heard the offer
Well we’ve slashed just under £39m off the yearly wage bill so far with the players that have left. Could be even more if more players leave.
I would say we could afford either Sesko or Gyokeres.
Arsenal simply derive pleasure in tormenting their fans, they don’t care one bit about their fans, all the want is to enrich themselves. Arsenal is interested in Noni, Eze, Sesko, Gyokeres, Rodrigo and many more yet no real intent.
How long does it take to sign a player? How log did it take the current champions Liverpool to sign Wirtz? I wouldn’t be surprised if after everything Arsenal ends up with no striker. I already know who we are dealing with
Arteta will never sign a striker. He’s just playing mind games to the fans. Any player that Arteta needs for the team will be signed before the preseason games. Arsenal is pointing fingers at every striker so far in order to calm the fans down but there’s no intention in signing any striker. He only focused on defence that’s why all the players he’s bringing are defensive. Norgard, Zubimendi, Masquera etc are all defensive.
Many clubs tend to inflate prices when dealing with Arsenal. It’s almost fashionable and It has been for years. Why other clubs believe we’re a soft target probably has much to do with the fact that our initial offers are close to laughable or just badly timed. Arsenal have rightly been accused of destabilising other clubs through activating release clauses while trying to turn heads with very low bids. I’m guessing we’ve put ourselves in a negative position? I mean, Surrey for a pound? Thw less said about Olly Watkins. The better. We were never serious. Some just don’t take us serious or just don’t want to deal with us unless it’s best for them. And I mean better by some margin..
This is never about Arsenal or anyone at that, football is business, everything these days is all about money, you want your player, you gotta pay what he’s worth, simple.
Suarez not Surrey, sorry.
Everyone knows we need a striker and those with quality strikers will certainly play hard with their players.
We put ourselves in this mess and we have no choice but to pay a high fee if we have to get one.
Knowing how we deal with transfers, I won’t be surprised if a we sign a C.f at the tail end of the window when parent clubs will be desperate to offload .
Calvert Lewin anyone!.
Another injury prone player and being a free, he’s bound to fit in at Arsenal.
They mustn’t🤦♂️ They couldn’t,🤦♂️ They wouldn’t, 🤦♂️ Would they?🤷♂️
The transfer market for Arsenal is like a bad soap opera. Predictably we will sign another CFC reject pay them more money and at the end of next year with no silverware MA will go to greener pastures and will start another cycle of selling our best players to clubs with ambition. Will maybe make top 4 for a couple more years and then drop out and start rebuilding all over again . Priceless!!!!