Arsenal’s plans for a summer transfer rebuild look set to be affected by their ongoing injury crisis, according to reports.
Mikel Arteta’s side have seen their Premier League title hopes implode in recent days following dropped points against West Ham and Nottingham Forest.
The Gunners have looked particularly toothless in attack which is perhaps no surprise given they have only three fit and available forwards after injuries to Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz.
But staring down the barrel of yet another trophyless season, Arsenal are expected to embark on a major summer recruitment drive to try espeically after opting not to dip into the market in January.
Replenishing the forward line is likely to be the main priority in the summer, with Alexander Isak and Benjamin Sesko known to be high up on the club’s wishlist.
A deal for either striker will command a significant fee, however, with Newcastle, in particular, not keen to part ways with Isak unless they receive a British record transfer fee.
Sanctioning a purchase of that size will likely require offloading squad players and several names have already been linked with an exit.
Thomas Partey is out of contract in the summer and looks set to depart the Emirates, while Kieran Tiernay and Oleksandr Zinchenko are also both linked with a move away.
However, the club may have problems offloading two other squad players – Takehiro Tomiyasu and Gabriel Jesus – due to their respective injury problems.
According to the Daily Mail, the Gunners will likely be forced to shelve plans to sell either player in the summer as they continue their rehabilitations from major injuries.
Jesus enjoyed a fruitful purple patch over the festive period, scoring six goals in four games, but saw his season come to an untimely end when he picked up an ACL injury in Arsenal’s FA Cup third round defeat against Manchester United in mid-January.
Tomiyasu, meanwhile, has played just six minutes of football this campaign due to various injury problems.
The Japan international picked up an injury on the club’s pre-season tour of America and has not been since a late substitute appearance in a 3-1 win over Southampton in October.
The full-back had been working his way back to fitness but has now undergone knee surgery which could rule him out until well past the summer window is shut.
Despite the latest blow to their summer clearout, Arsenal are expected to plow on with their plans to refresh Arteta’s side ahead of another challenge for the title.
A deal to sign Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi is understood to be at an advanced stage while the Gunners will also target a move for Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia to provide competition for David Raya.
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