Arsenal are now targeting a Champions League defender for Mikel Arteta, and the Gunners are set for sit-down talks with his entourage soon as they schedule a transfer meeting.
Arsenal's summer transfer plans explained
The north Londoners have an outside chance of pipping Liverpool to the Premier League title at best, with last weekend all but ending their hopes of winning a first domestic top flight crown in 21 years.
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Arsenal’s 1-0 loss to West Ham United at the Emirates Stadium, combined with Liverpool’s win against Man City at the Etihad, means Arne Slot’s side now have one hand on this year’s Premier League winner’s medals.
Nottingham Forest (away)
Today
Man Utd (away)
March 9th
Chelsea (home)
March 16th
Fulham (home)
April 1st
Everton (away)
April 5th
The Gunners were hamstrung by recent long-term injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, leaving Arteta without a recognised centre-forward, while both Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka are not expected back until March.
This situation has even prompted Arteta to utilise midfielder Mikel Merino as an emergency striking option, and while the Spaniard’s late brace helped Arsenal to a recent 2-0 win at Leicester City, he’s hardly a permanent solution up front.
Arsenal are targeting new strikers this summer to finally end their long search for a prolific target man. According to recent reports, the likes of Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins, Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, RB Leipzig ace Benjamin Sesko, Juventus’ Dušan Vlahović, Sporting CP sensation Viktor Gyokeres, Eintracht Frankfurt talisman Hugo Ekitiké and ex-Liverpool favourite Roberto Firmino are potential options for Arteta.
There are even suggestions that Arsenal are looking to sign two new strikers, rather than one big name, with Watkins and Sesko among Arteta’s top striker targets heading into the summer window.
However, the bulk of Arsenal’s transfer kitty won’t only be going on strikers. Kieran Tierney appears set to join Celtic on a free transfer, while uncertainty surrounds the future of Oleksandr Zinchenko after he was linked with a move away from the Emirates in January.
According to Italian newspaper Tuttosport, via Football Italia, Arteta’s side are considering Club Brugge left-back Maxim De Cuyper as a potential heir to the aforementioned duo.
Arsenal set for imminent meeting with Maxim De Cuyper's agents
The Belgium international has been a star player for Brugge this season, currently ranking as their second-best performer by average match rating in the Jupiler Pro League, according to WhoScored.
His performance are seemingly attracting attention from London, as Tuttosport write that Arsenal are set for talks with De Cuper’s agents “shortly”.
The 24-year-old has helped Brugge to the last 16 of the Champions League as well, where they recently caused a major upset by knocking Atalanta out in the play-offs, so he could be an astute option.
It is also stated that De Cuyper will be allowed to leave Brugge for a fee of around £21 million, making him a very affordable option for the left-hand side.
The defender has also averaged an impressive 2.6 key passes per 90 in the final third (WhoScored), indicating a real degree of creativity to his game.
