Arsenal now hold a strong interest in a “lethal” £50m striker, who is seen as an ideal solution to their attacking issues, according to a report.
Doubt over Havertz's Arsenal future
Although the Gunners are still in the Premier League title race, currently sitting six points behind Liverpool, there is a feeling they could have done with bringing in some extra attacking firepower during the January transfer window.
In a recent interview with Football Insider, former scout Mick Brown revealed Mikel Arteta is set to pursue a new striker in the summer, casting doubt over Havertz’s long-term future at the Emirates Stadium.
“I don’t think their position has changed since they first started looking at options. Arteta wasn’t happy that they didn’t strengthen in January, because they needed to.
“So if Arsenal can get a top-quality replacement, I expect them to do that in the summer.”
Arsenal keen on "special" £25m ace who's now available to sign this summer
The Gunners have set their sights on a hot prospect, who is being targeted by some of Europe’s top clubs.
ByDominic LundFeb 9, 2025
Alexander Isak and Benjamin Sesko are among the main strikers to be linked with a move to north London in the summer, but reports from Spain have now revealed there is another name on the list of targets.
Arsenal are said to hold a strong interest in Atalanta’s Mateo Retegui, having been impressed by his performances this season, which has attracted the attention of a number of big clubs.
Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain are also ‘bidding strongly’ for Retegui, so there may be stiff competition for his signature, with Atalanta set to try and hold out for up to €60m (£50m).
With the Gunners still lacking a reliable striker, the Atalanta star is viewed as an ideal solution, but they are yet to make any concrete moves towards getting a deal done.
Retegui on fire in the Serie A
It is no surprise the Italian has attracted Arsenal’s attention, as he has been prolific in the Serie A this season, scoring 20 goals in 22 games, most recently bagging four in his side’s 5-0 victory against Hellas Verona.
Italy manager Luciano Spalletti was full of praise for the 25-year-old earlier this season, saying: “Inside the box, he is lethal. And now he has learned how to connect with the team better. He’s going to become a top player.”
If the Gunners are keen on an out-and-out striker, Retegui could be their man, given that he ranks in the 96th percentile for non-penalty goals per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers.
As you’d expect, Havertz outperforms the Atalanta forward on a number of key defensive metrics, while he has also provided far more assists during the same timeframe.
However, the most important thing for any striker is to find the back of the net, and the Argentina-born marksman certainly knows how to do that, so it is promising news the Gunners are considering a summer move.