Arsenal are braced for a big summer transfer window after going agonisingly close to winning the Premier League title.
The Gunners pushed Manchester City to the final day and that pain is set to fuel Mikel Arteta’s side to improve both on and off the pitch. The 2024-25 season starts with recruitment and Arsenal have identified centre forward as an area which needs strengthening.
Plenty of names have been linked and for a while it seemed that Benjamin Sesko was the Gunners’ first pick. However, the Slovenian hotshot has U-turned on his stance on joining Arsenal and forced Arteta and co to look elsewhere.
Here’s a round-up of the latest transfer news from the Emirates.
Gunners still keen on Zirkzee
Arsenal could sign Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee after first-choice target Benjamin Sesko opted to sign a new deal with RB Leipzig. Sesko had been heavily linked with a move to north London, although he plans to remain in the Bundesliga for at least one more season.
The Gunners have therefore been forced to turn to other targets, with Sky Sports reporting that alongside Manchester United and AC Milan, Arsenal remain interested in Zirkzee. The Dutchman, 22, fired Bologna into the Champions League places in the season just finished by scoring 11 goals in Serie A but could follow boss Thiago Motta out of the club this summer.
‘Next Saka’ remains in talks over new deal
Arsenal are still in contract talks with academy prospect Amario Cozier-Duberry, who’s been dubbed the ‘next Bukayo Saka’. The 19-year-old’s current deal expires at the end of this month and he’s receiving interest from across Europe.
Football.london report that no decision has been made and cite comments from Arsenal under-18 manager Jack Wilshere not only praising Cozier-Duberry but adding that first-team boss Mikel Arteta is a fan of him. “Amario is very exciting and Mikel [Arteta] likes him,” Wilshere told the Athletic last year.
“He reminds me of Bukayo Saka, plays in the same position as him, needs to get better with his decision-making like Bukayo did, but he’s definitely exciting.”
Arsenal confident of goalkeeper’s signature
Arsenal are confident that goalkeeper Karl Hein will sign a new deal with the club, according to the Evening Standard. Like Amario Cozier-Duberry, Hein is on course to be out of contract on June 30 but the Gunners are hopeful that the Estonian will stick around.
Should the 22-year-old extend his six-year stay with Arsenal, he’d likely be sent out on loan. A number of Championship clubs are monitoring his situation.
