Arsenal eye Serie A transfer moves for top-scoring striker duo

How wide can Arsenal cast their transfer net? With their fate yet to be determined they would be wise to keep their options open on the chance that Champions League football is theirs to savour.

When it comes to sourcing their new centre-forward, the Gunners may have two lists: Europa League targets and Champions League targets. Of course, that isn’t to say failure to finish in the top four will persuade them against certain players.

After all, the club pushed hard for Dusan Vlahovic in the January window with their place in the table even less certain than it is now. They will know how pivotal being in that competition will be for their chances of luring certain targets, but they’ll be sure to try anyway.

This net of theirs extends across Europe at present. The names linked with the club come from all across the continent, from clubs dining at the top table as well as those battling relegation.

Arsenal eye Serie A transfer moves for top-scoring striker duo Lautaro Martinez at Inter and Victor Osimhen at Napoli

Italy, famously, doesn’t do exports. Well, exports that hail from the country, as Arsenal know better than most the calibre of player to be found in the division.

Two strikers on their long list are in Italy now, neither of whom are Italian, but both of whom are currently the top scorers for their respective teams.

As per CBS Sports’ James Benge, Arsenal have been undertaking ‘extensive scouting’ of Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Lautaro Martinez at Inter Milan. These are two names regularly mentioned among supporters, with the pair garnering their fair share of admirers.

Martinez has history with Arsenal, as strong links from UK sources previously reported at length about Edu’s discussions with Inter over a proposed move prior to him signing a new contract. As for Osimhen, from a profile perspective he suits the bill, with the issue of accessibility and price where the uncertainty lies.

Martinez is rumoured to be valued at £60m, while Osimhen cost Napoli almost £70m as recently as 2020.

What is very interesting is the specific framework Arsenal are working in. They desire a striker with extensive experience at the top level, but who still fits the age profile to align with their youthful squad. Above all, however, they want someone who puts the ball in the back of the net.

In the case of Martinez and Osimhen, they fit the bill. 24 and 23 years old respectively, they have been operating at the top level, although the Nigerian is certainly newer to the party having burst onto the scene in the 2019/20 campaign.

This criteria also strengthens the case for Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who at 25 years old has bags of Premier League know-how and would arrive at Arsenal on the cusp of being a ‘senior’ player.

In any case, the requirements for Arsenal do limit their search. It’s a specific and critically important set of desires, which will at least help decode some of the fact from the fiction in the transfer rumour mill.