Arsenal: 5 versatile forward transfers to target

On the pursuit for forward reinforcements this summer, Arsenal are hoping to be able to cast their net far and wide when the transfer window opens.

Technical director Edu revealed that the club have submitted their plans for the end of the season, likely regarding positions of interest, specific targets and resource distribution. However, he as much as anyone knows that where Arsenal finish the campaign will have a major impact.

If the Gunners are to secure a top four spot, something they are on course to do with them currently boasting a two point advantage over Tottenham with five games left to pay, it provides them with a wealth of options.

All that will prevent them from signing players will be the superiority and longevity of other sides. Having Champions League football to offer and the money required to secure the players they need, the market becomes their oyster, so to speak. Not wanting to break the wage structure will impact dealings, though.

Arsenal: 5 versatile forward transfers to target as Mikel Arteta eyes wide player who can operate as a striker in the coming summer window

But they will at least be dining at the same tables. Should they end up in the Europa League, they will not have such a luxury.

On the long list of areas to target is the forward line. Well known that Arsenal want to sign a centre-forward – likely more of a hold-up/target man No. 9 – they also want to bring in a more versatile option. With Nicolas Pepe likely to depart the club, eyes are on a striker who can play wide, or a wide player who can play striker.

This would give Arteta more flexibility in his selections, which will be needed with European of some variety looking like returning to the Emirates Stadium next season.

With that in mind, who are some of the names around Europe who could offer that, or at least have shown signs that they could be capable of performing both roles?

1. Rafael Leao – AC Milan

After Inter’s shock defeat at Bologna in midweek, AC Milan are now in pole position to secure their first Scudetto since 2011. If they are to do so, much of their success will be attributed to Rafael Leao.

Talk about players on an upwards trajectory. Scoring six and seven respectively during his first two seasons with Milan, this season he’s notched 12 across all competitions, yet it’s his all-round play that has improved dramatically.

Almost solely lining up on the left of the attack, he’s added technical security to his game and creative link-up play in the half-spaces to complement his lightning pace. Tall, sprinty, skillful and sharp, Leao has weighed in with another seven assists this season as he’s refined his direct style into a more well-rounded package.

Capable of playing through the middle although almost exclusively a winger, he has attribute growth that could see him prosper with more specific coaching.

At 22 years old he fits the age profile, he’ll add height (6’2″), versatility and has the technical ability to suit Arsenal. With a coach who has worked with wide players like him before at Man City there is plenty to be interested about.

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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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3. Ollie Watkins – Aston Villa

There is a large contingent of supporters who remain keen on the idea of Ollie Watkins making the move to north London, with few seeming to sit on the fence in their opinion of the Aston Villa man.

His profile is an interesting one as he has already made the move from winger to striker, a transition he excelled in during his time at Brentford and carried over into his time at Villa.

Bagging 14 in the Premier League last season when he led the line under Dean Smith, his continuity and physical traits shone as he missed just one game across the whole campaign, completing every game he started in. Such were is performances that England came knocking, who saw his improvements across numerous facets, such as hold-up play, off the ball intensity and finishing.

This season it hasn’t been quite as spectacular, but then again he isn’t really a spectacular player. Many see the potential but forget he’s 26 years old, and that as solid as he may be in some departments he’s no more than ‘very good’ across the board. Wanting to truly elevate this team means looking somewhere else.

Arsenal have been credited with an interest over recent times, yet you need significantly more output in build-up and in front of goal to spend the kinds of figures Villa would be asking for on a player whose just entered his prime years.

Beyond quality and looking at profile, he’s extremely well suited. But that’s not enough.

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4. Gabriel Jesus – Manchester City

In regards to the profile of forward Arsenal are after, Gabriel Jesus fits the bill exactly. A striker by trade, he’s never been confined to the No. 9 role and has over recent years transitioned more permanently to a wide position on the right. That’s where he most often plays for Manchester City and even where he lines up for his national team.

For anyone fearing whether he had lost some of his centre-forward mojo, an excellent display up front for Man City in their crazy 4-3 win over Real Madrid provided a timely reminder.

This is someone with excellent control in tight spaces, quick feet, strong hold up play and a surprisingly strong delivery from wide areas. Capable of coming short or going long, you can have faith in Jesus to do both a wide role and the striker position comfortably.

As for the other aspects, he’s just turned 25 years old, not only has bags of Premier League experience but has it at the highest level imaginable, has played European and international football, and is a the kind of committed personality on and off the pitch that suits this young Arsenal group.

Barring a late turnaround from City it appears as if his time at the Etihad Stadium will draw to a close in the summer and being available for a bargain at £25m almost feels to perfect.

Arsenal’s interest is real and as one of the two forwards being eyed this summer his arrival would be warmly welcomed.

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5. Christopher Nkunku – RB Leipzig

Christopher Nkunku isn’t just one of the hottest properties in German football at the moment, he’s one of the globe’s hottest attacking talents overall.

Clocking up an obscene number of goal contributions from near enough every position in the forward line, his tally of 30 goals and 20 assists from 46 games in all competitions is remarkable. There’s no expert maths required to work out that’s more than a goal or assist per game. All of which comes while RB Leipzig sit fourth in the Bundesliga.

Having played in every position from wing-back to central midfield to No. 10 to winger either side, he’s now found stability operating as one of the strikers in Domenico Tedesco’s unorthodox 3-3-2-2 shape.

There are no faults with him. None.

If out wide he’s an excellent one-on-one dribbler and crosser of the ball, when deep his ability in small spaces is ideal for combination play, when running in behind he has a treasured touch and finishing capability with either foot, and his work-rate is exemplary as you’d expect for an RB Leipzig player.

All of this comes from a player who is just 24 years old and heading into the final two years of his contract. If Liverpool hadn’t just signed Luis Diaz he’s someone they’d surely reach out for, and if you’re any other club in Europe right now not looking to bring him in you must be either broke or blind.

For Arsenal he’d provide all the options you could ever want. There is the potential to line up on either flank, operate as an inside forward (left most suited), or as a second striker.

Just throw the bag at him. He’s elite.