Arsenal: 5 versatile forward transfers to target

2. Cody Gakpo – PSV Eindhoven

Someone who has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal is Cody Gakpo, whose stock continues to rise across Europe in what is his finest individual season by some distance.

Despite only signing a contract extension in January, PSV would be open to a club-record sale, one that could amount to around £40m, which for an exciting prospect who is still only 22 years old feels like a fair price.

Like Leao the Dutchman also lines almost solely on the left. What is he? Well, Gakpo is tall, supremely physically imposing, and boasts outstanding ball control running at pace.

His dribbling ability in close quarters and at speed is frightening, hence why comparisons to Thierry Henry have naturally followed.

The movements he makes and timings of his runs are lethal, as he has the knack of arriving into the penalty area at the right time, just as he puts the ball in the box when the opportunity calls for it. His devastating finishing and creative spark have seen him clock up 18 goals and 15 assists across the season.

Already captaining his side, were it not for injuries there would be more to show on the goal numbers than he has produced. Those niggling problems are a concern, and he would need time to adjust to the Premier League against a different brand of defender, but he’s performing at an outstanding level.

Where Gakpo differs to Leao is that he’s played centre-forward slightly more often. Scoring eight times from 17 starts down the middle is a fine return, although his superpowers of out-to-in runs with the ball at pace would be limited in the role.

He is someone with immeasurable development potential, though, and Arsenal’s interest is no joke.

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