Leroy Sane, Ollie Watkins, and Gabriel Magalhaes (Picture by Maja Hitij, Warren Little, Angel Martinez/Getty Photographs)
Bryan Mbeumo wouldn’t have made sense for Arsenal, however Leroy Sane is a goal on a free switch
There’s been a number of response from Arsenal followers to the information that Bryan Mbeumo seems set to affix Manchester United in some unspecified time in the future this summer season, with many believing their membership ought to have been pushing for the Brentford winger.
There was reported curiosity in Mbeumo from Arsenal, however issues by no means went additional than that and I’m probably not stunned to be sincere.
Don’t get me mistaken, I might have cherished to have seen Mbeumo at Arsenal, there isn’t a doubt he would have improved Mikel Arteta’s attacking choices.
However let’s face it, he’s predominantly a proper winger and strengthening in that place isn’t actually the precedence for Arsenal this window.
They have already got Bukayo Saka, who’s going to play most of the time after which they’ve Ethan Nwaneri, who they need to proceed to seek out significant minutes for following his breakthrough marketing campaign in 2024/25.
In order good as it will have been to see somebody like Mbeumo are available, it simply wasn’t actually sensible in a window when Arsenal are going to have to take a position closely in different areas of the assault.
I do suppose there’s an argument for bringing in one other proper sided choice, however the precedence must be freshening issues up on the alternative flank in addition to including that long-awaited new striker.
These two additions are going to price large cash and while you add within the £51 million price that has been put apart for Martin Zubimendi that already provides as much as vital outlay from Arsenal within the switch window.
So spending £60m plus on a proper winger on high of all that simply doesn’t appear sensible, as good as it will be.
Maybe that’s the reason exploratory talks have been held with Leroy Sane’s agent, with the German winger set to be obtainable on a free switch ought to he fail to conform to an extension with Bayern Munich.
Ollie Watkins might nonetheless be one to observe for Arsenal
It’s solely been a couple of months since Arsenal made a proposal for Ollie Watkins, so it’s unimaginable to take a seat right here and rule out the prospect of them going again in for the Aston Villa striker.
Mikel Arteta stays an admirer of the ahead, however the one means I can see one thing taking place with him this summer season is that if one thing fairly dramatic occurs with each Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres.
These two are clearly the priorities relating to the brand new striker and I might view Watkins as an choice provided that neither of these major targets had been to reach.
Some will argue that Watkins might are available alongside one in every of both Sesko or Gyokeres, however once more I’m unsure that’s actually sensible given the cash that may probably be spent elsewhere.
I believe the potential for Watkins shifting to Arsenal would rely loads on what kind of worth Aston Villa could be in search of to do enterprise.
In January they valued him at round £60 million and that was means above the £40m that the Arsenal hierarchy had been prepared to pay.
Given Watkins will flip 30 on the finish of the 12 months that valuation from Villa must cut back massively for Arsenal to think about doping something for the striker.
Why aren’t Arsenal pursuing Hugo Ekitike?
It doesn’t actually shock me that Arsenal usually are not being talked about as critical contenders for Hugo Ekitike, even when Mark Brus made an incredible case for the signing right here.
He’s clearly a high expertise and has had an excellent season in Germany with Frankfurt. From what I’ve seen of him, he additionally seems tailored to be a hit within the Premier League.
However after I take a look at the form of striker that Mikel Arteta needs to function with in his system, I’m simply unsure Ekitike suits the invoice.
You possibly can see why Arsenal are so eager on Benjamin Sesko. He simply seems like he’ll match into Arteta’s system completely, however I’m unsure you’ll be able to say the identical with Ekitike.
That’s not a criticism and to be sincere I believe there’s a robust argument that Arsenal must be in search of one thing a bit bit totally different to what they have already got.
Arsenal have seemed a bit predictable beneath Arteta, they actually did final season anyway, and perhaps they want one other kind of choice to provide the opposition one thing else to consider.
However I’m simply unsure that’s what they’re actually in search of.
It’s been a sluggish begin however Arsenal are planning a big window
By way of the early enterprise being accomplished by Arsenal’s Premier League rivals this summer season, I can perceive why there’s a sense of frustration rising amongst the fanbase.
Liverpool are exhibiting actual intent within the early days of the window. There’s no sense of them taking their eye off the ball because of their title celebrations. If something, it seems like they’re decided to ship out a press release to everybody else that they’re out to construct on their success.
That may be a fear, given how clear they completed above the remainder of the league final season and given the standard of gamers they’re now wanting to herald.
However I do suppose at this early stage of the window it’s a must to attempt to ignore what is going on elsewhere and simply wait to see what your individual membership does. There may be nonetheless such a protracted option to go.
Arsenal need to considerably strengthen this summer season. That message has been made abundantly clear and I believe they’ll.
Persistence is rarely a phrase that goes down very effectively throughout a switch window. However it’s one thing that’s wanted amid all of the exterior noise.
Andrea Berta making good progress on new Arsenal contracts
Contract discussions are ongoing with Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly and naturally the intention is to get each secured to new long-term offers as shortly as doable.
Arsenal are conscious that there’s a urgent must get each tied down as a result of truth their present offers are because of expire on the finish of the season and sporting director Andrea Berta has taken a agency grasp on these discussions.
Berta has made glorious progress within the talks with Gabriel Magalhaes and my understanding is that Arsenal’s new sorting director has made an excellent impression on everybody who’s at present concerned in contract discussions on the membership.
So I believe that bodes effectively relating to Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri.
Myles Lewis-Skelly to Actual Madrid? In fact they’d have an interest on this outrageous expertise!
I’ve heard in regards to the curiosity from Actual Madrid in Lewis-Skelly and that doesn’t shock me one bit. He’s an outrageous expertise and Madrid noticed that first hand when he bossed them over two legs within the Champions League final season.
So after all they’d be interested by such a promising younger participant and could be eager to study what his plans are given he’s about to enter the ultimate 12 months of his deal.
However I’m satisfied he’ll quickly conform to an extension at Arsenal. He’s the way forward for the membership and he’s spent years dreaming of constructing it into the senior facet, so why would he depart so quickly after reaching that dream?
Arsenal are very calm in regards to the state of affairs. They imagine Lewis-Skelly will signal and at this stage I see no motive to doubt that view.
