Arsenal will look to bring in a prolific frontman this summer and, despite links with Alexander Isak, the club have had to consider other targets with Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike now on their radar
Arsenal are ready to go after Frankfurt hitman Hugo Ekitike as they consider alternatives to Alexander Isak in their pursuit of a striker. The Gunners look poised to fall short in the Premier League title race for a third year on the bounce and it is their lack of a prolific goalscorer that has cost them this term.
After years after failing to sign a renowned No 9 this summer is seen as the time that Mikel Arteta will finally act. Ekitike is now emerging as a leading candidate as his stock continues to rise in Germany.
Several Premier League clubs are keen on the Frenchman with Frankfurt set to demand around £60million if the player is to leave, reports The Sun.
The 22-year-old has scored 19 times this term and recently hit a hat-trick for France’s U21s when they beat England. Ekitike only moved to the Bundesliga outfit from PSG last summer but could be on the move once more.
Arsenal have had to scour the market with Isak becoming an increasingly difficult target to secure. The Swede is enjoying his best season to date at St James’ Park and the club have slapped a £150m bounty on him as the striker become’s one of the world’s most sought after players.
READ MORE: Arsenal put on red alert as Premier League rivals officially enter race for dealREAD MORE: Mikel Arteta has ‘already signed a striker’ for Arsenal as transfer bombshell dropped
Isak scored in the Carabao Cup final as Newcastle downed Liverpool to win a first trophy in more than half a century. The club have huge ambitions and the capture of silverware could catapult them to the next level with Isak key to their plans moving forward.
It would require a British record transfer if Arsenal were to land Isak and, as a result, they’ve begun looking at who else they could look to lead their line. Frankfurt have shown themselves willing to part with their top players for the right fee. Manchester City were able to land Omar Marmoush back in January after his efforts at the Bundesliga outfit.
Arteta had looked to bring in a forward back in the New Year and the Gunners have been linked with the likes of Viktor Gyokeres, but they remain without a fit striker. The issue has been so glaring that ex-player Martin Keown is convinced a frontman has already been signed – despite no announcement being made.
He said on TNT Sports: “I would suggest that there is already a player bought and it’s already done from an Arsenal point of view. They won’t make that mistake again.”
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