Arsenal will be looking to add a top striker to their artillery this summer and sporting director Edu has reportedly drawn up a 10-man shortlist.
His catalog of hitmen includes Ivan Toney, Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres, Sporting CP’s goal-per-game talisman.
Arsenal have been prolific this season without a recognized and consistent striker, scoring 70 goals, the best mark in the Premier League so far.
Kai Havertz has often acted as a false nine when Gabriel Jesus was injured and, despite struggling initially, has begun to thrive in the role.
However, the Gunners will revert to a typical number nine system from next season and are narrowing their search, according to the daily mirror.
Arsenal sporting director Edu has reportedly drawn up a shortlist of 10 forwards
Kai Havertz has grown into a number nine but Arsenal are committed to finding a top-class specialist marksman.
Ivan Toney is the biggest name on the list, but Brentford could value him at £100m.
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Ivan Toney and Alexander Isak are the most recognized names in England for their Premier League experience.
Brentford’s golden boy has scored four goals in 10 games since returning from his betting ban and scored 21 in all competitions last season. However, the Bees have reportedly put a £100million price tag on his prized asset.
Meanwhile, Isak has 16 goals in all competitions for Newcastle and has maintained his form despite persistent injury problems, adapting better to life in England in his second season.
Sporting are desperate to retain Gyokeres, whom they signed for a club record £20million in the summer.
He has taken them to the top of the Portuguese league, has 36 goals in 39 games in all competitions and is so highly regarded that they reportedly rejected a £73m bid from Chelsea for him in January.
The fourth giant name is Victor Osimhen, Napoli’s shining light and the eighth best player in the world according to the 2023 Ballon d’Or list.
After firing them to a first Scudetto in 33 years last season with 26 Serie A goals, he was the talk of Europe, with Napoli’s ill-tempered owner Aurelio De Laurentiis reportedly demanding £150m for him in the summer.
His star has dimmed a bit this campaign, as he has 13 goals in all competitions, compared to 31 last time, but he remains one of the most desired men in Europe.
Alexander Isak is the other name in the Premier League that stands out and has 16 goals this season.
Viktor Gyokeres is Europe’s most sought-after man with 36 goals, but Sporting reportedly rejected a £73m bid from Chelsea in January.
Victor Osimhen has struggled to replicate last season’s title-winning heroics but remains a top-class player.
Lois Openda has earned his reputation for a few years and has 23 goals for RB Leipzig
With Napoli seventh and unlikely to offer elite European football next season, his time at Diego Maradona’s former club may be running out.
Outside of this group (arguably the top four names) is a group of highly sought-after emerging talent between the ages of 20 and 24.
Lois Openda, from RB Leipzig, had already been targeted by Manchester United and has been building his reputation for some years now.
Twenty-three goals this season come after Lens’ 21 last season and Vitesse’s 24 the year before.
He is a rising star for Domenico Tedesco’s new-look Belgium and scored twice against Manchester City earlier this season.
His Leipzig teammate Benjamin Sesko also features on Edu’s list, with 11 goals to his name for his efforts this season. He is 20 years old and is also the youngest.
Benjamin Sesko is the youngest man on their list, he is 20 years old and has 11 goals this campaign
Porto’s Evanilson played against the Gunners in the Champions League round of 16
Arsenal fans will be familiar with Porto’s Evanilson, who played against them in the last 16 of the Champions League. He has 22 goals this season and six assists.
Brian Brobbey is the latest to emerge from Ajax’s famous production line and has really made his mark this campaign, scoring 20 goals even as the team has been mediocre as a whole.
However, there is a more prolific target in Holland: Feyenoord’s Santiago Giménez. The Mexican has scored 24 goals this season and celebrated a hat-trick against Brobbey’s Ajax in September… in a match that was played over two days due to fan inconvenience.
The last name to mention is Victor Boniface, who has been at the top of Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen revolution and has not tasted defeat this season.
He has scored 16 goals this season and nine assists, but has not played since December due to an inductor injury.
Brian Brobbey is the latest great talent to come out of the famous Ajax academy
Santiago Giménez scored 24 goals for Feyenoord and scored a hat-trick against Ajax in September.
Víctor Boniface has had the pleasure of playing under Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen
In total, there are 185 goals that Edu is watching. He searches your coffers and chooses.
One wonders what the future holds for Eddie Nketiah, with his humble offering of six strikes in 33 outings.