Arsenal “offering” £83m for English forward with transfer possible

Arsenal are looking at new forward options ahead of the summer transfer market, with Mikel Arteta’s side now believed to be in contention for a homegrown, marquee attacker.

Arsenal identifying transfer targets before next season

The Premier League title race is out of Arsenal’s hands, and while there is still an outside hope they could catch Liverpool amid the Reds’ drop in form, the odds are stacked against Arteta’s injury-ridden side.

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Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus are both out for the rest of this season after sustaining long-term injuries, while Arteta is also waiting to have both Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka back in contention for their final run of matches.

This has left Arsenal short of top-quality options in the final third, with Arteta forced to deploy a front three of Leandro Trossard, Raheem Sterling and Ethan Nwaneri in their last Premier League clash against Leicester City.

Emergency striker Mikel Merino saved the day with a dramatic brace in the final 10 minutes after coming off Arteta’s bench, and the Gunners board will be very keen to ensure they won’t have to resort to such desperate measures next season.

Arsenal are believed to be shortlisting forward targets ahead of another potential title challenge next term as the club look to bolster Arteta’s options.

Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, Juventus star Dušan Vlahović, Sporting CP sensation Viktor Gyokeres, Eintracht Frankfurt gem Hugo Ekitiké, ex-Liverpool talisman Roberto Firmino and even Real Madrid duo Endrick and Rodrygo are all strikers linked with moves to Arsenal following reports from this last week alone.

Arsenal “said to be offering £83m” for Borussia Dortmund forward Jamie Gittens

Now, as per reliable Bundesliga insider Christian Falk, Borussia Dortmund forward Jamie Gittens is attracting interest from the Emirates as a potential wide alternative to the likes of Saka, Martinelli and Trossard.

The England Under-21 international has been in fantastic form this campaign, scoring 11 goals and registering 4 assists across all competitions, with Premier League sides taking note.

Arteta’s side are among them, with Falk claiming that Arsenal are “said to be offering” €100m (£83m) for Gittens.

“Dortmund crashed in the league, the Champions League is getting further and further away, and with that, the income from the Champions League next season,” said Falk on SportBILD (via Sport Witness).

“They have to win it to be in it again. If they miss out, they’ll have to sell players and Gittens is highly regarded. Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham are said to be offering €100m. You have to say that would be nice money.”

Falk went on to add that “a transfer for Gittens could happen”.

The 20-year-old played for both Man City and Chelsea’s academies before pursuing regular first-team football at Dortmund. Former BVB manager Nuri Şahin praised Gittens’ development this season, calling him a “very important” player.

“He’s a very important player for us,” said Sahin.

“Jamie himself wants to take the next step, and we want him to take that step. Now he’s scoring goals and playing more mature football.”