Arsenal warned against £43.6m move for Rodrygo alternative as Mikel Arteta balance squad

Arsenal would still like to add at least one more attacking signing this window, with Eberechi Eze understood by football.london to be the priority target with what time remains in the market. However, there is further interest in the potential in a left wing signing.

The futures of Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli are not entirely assured, and there is a chance one will leave before the deadline. The Gunners would prefer to find a replacement. The key names on the club’s list are Real Madrid’s Rodrygo and Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon.

That being said, both players would be very expensive and would require the Gunners to bring in funds from sales before realistically looking to make a move for either. Even if Arsenal do successfully sell some of their surplus stars, this is no guarantee a deal would be possible, especially with Gordon who, after the potential sale of Alexander Isak, would find Newcastle additionally resistant to a sale.

In their stead, some have suggested why Arsenal do not look to Ademola Lookman as an alternative. Lookman has been linked with the Gunners before, and football.london understands there are some at the club who appreciate the Nigerian international's quality shown over recent seasons with Atalanta.

Lookman has now publicly admitted to submitting a transfer request after Atalanta turned down an approach from Inter Milan which he felt fairly represented his value. The Nerazzurri have reportedly switched attention to Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku as a result, threatening the chance of Lookman to get the move to Inter.

Atalanta reportedly want a fee of €50million (£43.6million) for Lookman. A price which is far less than the expected fees for Gordon or Rodrygo, yet there is an issue with any move.

Having already signed 27-year-old Viktor Gyokeres, 31-year-old Christian Norgaard, 30-year-old Arrizabalaga and looking at 27-year-old Eze, there is a host of experienced players in their mid-to-late 20s and early 30s joining the group. Adding 27-year-old Lookman to the side too would raise questions about the balance of the squad’s age.

The sell-on value of these four summer additions, plus Lookman being the fifth, would not be expected to come close to the fees that Arsenal purchased them at. Having already seen scrutiny come their way with player sales, it would be within their interests therefore to look at a younger wide option to replace one of Trossard or Martinelli.

Story Saved

You can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.