Arsenal have made an approach to sign a star attacker in excellent form this season, with the player now apparently set to leave his club this summer.
Arsenal target new forward as Premier League title hopes diminish
Interim sporting director Jason Ayto and the recruitment team are already planning for next season, with the Gunners’ hopes of a Premier League title this season taking a real hit this week as they full a further five points behind Liverpool all without scoring a single goal.
Arsenal offered £302k-per-week Zubimendi alternative who'd cost just £29m
The Gunners have been approached with an intriguing proposal.
ByEmilio GalantiniFeb 23, 2025
Jarrod Bowen’s diving header gifted West Ham all three points at the Emirates last weekend before the Gunners made the trip to Nottingham Forest on Wednesday, where a 0-0 draw was probably a fair result given the two teams combined for just three shots on target.
Man Utd (away)
March 9th
Chelsea (home)
March 16th
Fulham (home)
April 1st
Everton (away)
April 5th
Mikel Arteta must now put all of his eggs in the Champions League basket if he wishes to guide Arsenal to their first piece of major silverware since their FA Cup triumph in 2020, but he’s set to attempt European glory without a natural centre-forward in his ranks.
Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus are out for the rest of this season through injury, with Arsenal potentially regretting their decision not to acquire a top-class number nine when the January transfer window was open.
Ahead of a hopefully more successful Premier League title challenge next season, it is believed that the north Londoners are keen to rectify this in the summer.
Many big-name forwards have been linked with moves to N5, but a versatile option who could certainly be worth considering is Atalanta star Ademola Lookman.
The Serie A centre-forward, who plays as a second striker and out wide for the Nigeria national team, boasts 17 goals and seven assists from 29 appearances in all competitions under Gian Piero Gasperini – but he’s recently been at the centre of a fallout with his manager.
Gasperini blasted Lookman’s penalty-taking ability after the 27-year-old had a spot-kick saved by Simon Mignolet during the second leg of Atalanta’s surprise 5-2 aggregate defeat to Club Brugge in the Champions League play-offs, with the manager describing him as the “worst penalty taker” he’s ever seen.
Lookman publicly hit back at Gasperini for his jibe, and it’s safe to say tensions have escalated in Bergamo as a result.
Ademola Lookman set to leave Atalanta as Arsenal make contact
According to Sky Sports transfer reporter Sacha Tavolieri, this situation has opened the door for Arsenal and other interested sides to poach the African.
Indeed, Tavolieri writes that Lookman will no longer be an Atalanta player next season, and it is a “done deal” that he’ll depart them this summer. He adds that Arsenal have made contact over signing the in-form forward, so they’re a viable destination.
However, Liverpool have taken more “concrete steps” in the chase for his signature, which could cost around £54 million, according to other reports.
CaughtOffside also reported a few days ago that Arsenal and Liverpool are “most advanced” in the race for Lookman, so a potential move is gaining traction.