Arsenal are committed to attracting two known attackers next summer, reports The Times† The Gunners In their own league, they have been preying on Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City) and Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton) for some time, and are now reviving interest in Lautaro Martínez. According to the renowned daily, at least one condition must be present in order to release the latter striker from Internazionale: playing Champions League football. In total, the operation will cost far more than 100 million euros, an amount that is available in that case.
In the summer of 2021, Arsenal already fished emphatically for the services of Martínez, who was then also allowed to leave Milan for the right amount – around 80 million euros. Arsenal had just finished eighth for the second time in a row at that time and the 24-year-old Argentinian could therefore not hold out any playing minutes in the Champions League. The transfer then snapped according to The Times off. Eight months later, however, the cards were shuffled differently. Arsenal are in fourth place with four games to go, which will be good for their participation in the prestigious billion-dollar ball at the end of the season.
For Arsenal, securing the Champions League ticket will be crucial in the race for Martínez’s signature. It is curious that Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal’s two direct competitors for that ticket, are also showing serious interest in the South American. Martínez is showing good form this season with 17 goals and 3 assists in 32 league matches, but recently lost first place to rival AC Milan with Inter. In total, Martínez has 70 goals and 23 assists in 177 matches for Inter.
At Arsenal, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was the undisputed number one striker for many years, but the French-Gabonese left for Barcelona through the back door in January. Since then, the London striker position has been filled by Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah. The 30-year-old Frenchman as the 22-year-old youth product has an expiring contract and both are probably preparing for a transfer-free departure. With Lacazette, that is almost certain, but Nketiah is considering a contract proposal. The attacker hardly played a significant role at Arsenal for years, but has been in the starting line-up in recent weeks and played a crucial role with two goals in the spectacular win against Chelsea (2-3).
Due to the imminent departure of the duo, Arsenal is looking for not one, but two new strikers. Martínez applies according to The Times as priority, followed by Gabriel Jesus and Calvert-Lewin. Edu, the technical director of Arsenal, has already spoken several times with the agents of Jesus, who will run out of his contract with Manchester City in a year and therefore appears to be available, reportedly for 45 million euros. Interest has been dormant for much longer, a sign that Jesus (95 goals and 46 assists in 232 matches for City) also sees the switch himself.
An alternative is therefore Calvert-Lewin, who may come onto the market in the event of relegation with Everton. The Toffees are eighteenth, but won against Chelsea (1-0) on Sunday and still have the safe spots in sight. Calvert-Lewin has been struggling with injuries this season and has only scored three times in the Premier League in thirteen matches. However, the 25-year-old striker has been more accurate in recent years and has a total of 56 goals and 17 assists in 187 appearances for Everton.