Arsenal transfer chiefs are not about to give up their pursuit of new attacking signings any time soon.
In comparison to the previous two Premier League seasons – where they scored 91 and 88 over the course of 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 respectively – Mikel Arteta’s side only managed a meagre 69 over the domestic campaign just gone.
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Arsenal are about to make a signing.
Their lack of firepower, which was largely down to injuries to attacking players and the absence of a prolific striker, was a key aspect of Liverpool running away with last season’s domestic crown.
|
Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports) |
Money on new signings |
|---|---|
|
19/20 – winter |
£0 |
|
20/21 – summer |
£81.5m |
|
20/21 – winter |
£900k |
|
21/22 – summer |
£156.8m |
|
21/22 – winter |
£1.8m |
|
22/23 – summer |
£121.5m |
|
22/23 – winter |
£59m |
|
23/24 – summer |
£208m |
|
23/24 – winter |
£0 |
|
24/25 – summer |
£101.5m |
|
24/25 – winter |
£0 |
Bukayo Saka was out for months in total during 24/25, while Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard also suffered from lengthy lay-offs. This has made the signing of potential forward reinforcements a vital item on sporting director Andrea Berta’s to-do list this summer, and that applies both further forward and in the wide area.
Real Madrid forward Rodrygo is a top target for Arsenal in that regard, and they’ve already held reported talks this summer over a move for the Brazilian. However, his £77 million price tag and high salary make him a very ambitious target.
The Gunners have looked at alternatives, like Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma, as per Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg last month.
Alongside Mitoma, another Premier League star under serious consideration at Arsenal is West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus.
Arsenal plan bid for Mohammed Kudus after talks with him
The Ghanaian has an £80m-plus release clause which is reportedly active from July, but amid West Ham’s eagerness to offload him so they can fund their own transfer plans, Graham Potter’s side would accept around £60 million.
That is according to Graeme Bailey, who also told TBR this week that Arsenal have held talks with Kudus in the last week.
As a result of these discussions, Arsenal are now believed to be plotting a potential bid for the former Ajax star, but it is unclear what his stance would be on a move across London to the Emirates.
Kudus was deployed in a wide variety of roles under both Julen Lopetegui and Potter last term, including as a second striker, centre-forward and CAM, as well as on either flank as a winger/midfielder.
He bagged five goals and four assists in 35 total outings, but what’s more impressive is the player’s outstanding take-on ability.
As per WhoScored, only Man City sensation Jeremy Doku completed more successful dribbles per 90 than Kudus in the top-flight last term, indicating he could offer Arsenal an entirely different dimension.
Arteta also wouldn’t lose Kudus to the Africa Cup of Nations midway through 25/26, as would be the case with many other African stars, considering Ghana failed to qualify for the first time since 2004.
