Arsenal to miss out on £20m wonderkid striker this summer

Arsenal failing to qualify for Europe for the first time in two and a half decades has done more than just demoralise their supporters. The most important transfer window of their modern history in underway and a lowly eighth place league finish is impacting pursuits for a number of players.

It was inevitable. Not even making it into the Europa Conference League – a blessing in disguise, no doubt – means attracting targets to north London centres largely on what Arsenal could offer, not what they can.

For a club aiming to return to the upper echelons of the Premier League and begin competing in the Champions League, they will require talent of that calibre. Rival clubs eyeing the same targets will be able to call upon what Arsenal don’t have and any bargaining position is weakened.

There will be disappointment throughout the summer as they’re pipped to the post, as seen with Leicester nearing Ryan Bertrand’s signature, but even with youngsters the club has been extensively tracking the failings of last season are taking their toll.

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Arsenal to miss out on £20m wonderkid striker this summer as lack of European football prevents Tiago Tomas transfer

Tiago Tomas has been linked with Arsenal since the turn of the year with discussions underway over the course of 2021. Links started before last summer but have gathered pace since February with multiple reports listing the Gunners as nearing his signature.

Just 18 years old, the Sporting CP striker is considered one of the brightest young talents in Portugal, hence the club’s decision to hand him a new five-year deal in June 2020 that included an eye-watering release clause of £55m. Due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic it was stated that Arsenal could secure him for much less, at around £20m.

However, as per the Mirror, discussions are at an impasse with Arsenal’s failure to secure European football severely damaging their hopes. Sporting lifted their first Primeira Liga title in 19 years and qualified for the Champions League, thus are putting the brakes on any move. Sporting don’t want to sell to a club not in European competition.

It’s a blow to primarily Arsenal but Edu as well, who has been the driving force in discussions that have been ongoing for months.

With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang not getting any younger and the futures of Eddie Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette due to be away from north London, bringing in a young talent to develop into a starting role would constitute some much-needed long-term planning.

The strong argument to make, however, is that this role should be bestowed to Folarin Balogun, and if Arsenal do bring a centre-forward in then an experienced option with a different profile would be the right course of action.

Tomas is still very raw with three league goals in 16 starts, but there is little doubting he will be a mainstay on the European scene in the years to come and Arsenal see his signing as an opportunity not to miss out on. There is a lot to not trust about Edu, but he did play a key role in Gabriel Martinelli joining the club. He looks like being out of luck on this one.