THURSDAY MORNING DONE DEAL: Arsenal highjacked Liverpool transfer target as £70m winger who is technically better than Salah and Palmer joins Arsenal for a record breaking fee
THURSDAY MORNING DONE DEAL: Arsenal highjacked Liverpool transfer target as £70m winger who is technically better than Salah and Palmer joins Arsenal for a record breaking fee
Arsenal could reportedly attempt to sign AC Milan forward Rafael Leao this summer, as per Football London.
Despite already purchasing Noni Madueke from Chelsea, the Gunners are planning to sign a new left-sided forward in this window. Eberechi Eze has been heavily linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium over the last few weeks, but Tottenham Hotspur have stepped up their efforts to secure his service.
Now, Football London report that Arsenal considered Eze as an option to strengthen the CAM position, but they already have Martin Odegaard for this role, and Ethan Nwaneri, who is also a creative midfielder, has recently decided to sign an extension. Max Dowman can also provide cover in this area if needed.
The north London club have identified Rodrygo Goes and Anthony Gordon as options for the left flank, but either of them would be very expensive. Therefore, Arsenal have lined up alternative options.
Malick Fofana of Olympique Lyonnais is one of them, and Atalanta ace Ademola Lookman is also on their radar. Moreover, Leao is an option for Arsenal to bolster the frontline, and they could make a concrete approach to secure his service before the end of this transfer window.
Leao has established himself as a talismanic figure for Milan since joining from LOSC Lille back in 2019. He has helped the Rossoneri win the Scudetto title and the Supercoppa Italiana.
Leao to Arsenal
The 26-year-old is valued at around £60m by Transfermarkt and still has three years left in his current contract. Therefore, Milan are unlikely to allow him to leave for cheap.
Arsenal currently have Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard as the options for the left flank. But they need an upgrade to the Brazilian and are planning to do that by replacing Trossard, who has entered his 30s.
Leao can be a devastating forward on his day, but he can be inconsistent at times. He is currently at the prime stage of his career and might be a useful acquisition for Arsenal to bolster the left flank.
However, it is going to be interesting to see whether the north London club eventually manage to lure him to the Emirates Stadium before the end of this transfer window.
