Arsenal reignite £70m Lautaro Martinez transfer move from Inter

Arsenal took another small step towards securing a top four place on Sunday as their 2-1 victory away at West Ham moved them two points clear of Tottenham with four matches left to play.

If all goes their way they could find themselves five points ahead of Spurs heading into a mouth-watering North London Derby, one which victory in could confirm their place in the Champions League next season.

Should they achieve their goals they will be well placed ahead of the summer transfer window. The squad has been significantly trimmed down, both in size and in regards to salaries, and the additional finance coupled with elite European competition will allow them to attract a higher calibre of player.

Numerous strikers have been linked with Arsenal in recent months, with that position the undisputed primary goal when the window opens. Eddie Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette will depart in June when their contracts expire, prompting strong links to Gabriel Jesus, and now Lautaro Martinez has reemerged on the radar.

Arsenal reignite £70m Lautaro Martinez transfer move from Inter as hopes of Champions League football boost chances over Spurs and Manchester United

Mikel Arteta and co were keen on the Argentine last summer but ultimately couldn’t afford Inter’s asking price, although growing belief of a return to the Champions League has seen them return with firm interest, reports The Times.

Aiming to bring in two forwards in the summer, Martinez’s availability for a fee in the region of £60m-£70m has reignited north London flames, with the cash-strapped Inter expressing their willingness to part with the 24-year-old if their valuation is met.

Already matching his Serie A goal tally of 17 from last season, Martinez fits the profile of centre-forward Arsenal’s recruitment strategy is aimed around. Experienced but still young enough for development, the Argentine has a high level of technical ability and is capable of dropping off into midfield to facilitate play as well as stretching teams beyond with his pace. That variance is something Arteta is hugely keen on.

The player is eager to move to a side with Champions League football, and with Manchester United and Tottenham both keen on his signing – Spurs has lined a deal up last summer only for Inter to pull the plug last minute – finishing in the top four ahead of their rivals will give the Gunners an undoubted edge.

As for other targets, Jesus remains firmly in the thinking, while Tammy Abraham looks more unlikely given that Roma are expected to demand a substantial fee having only joined the club just last summer.

Already we’re seeing an example of how being in the Champions League can have a transformative impact on future purchases. Miss out and the pool includes Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Secure that elusive top four and international stars become viable options.