ARSENAL are working on a dream scenario of signing Viktor Gyokeres AND Nico Williams in a blockbuster £200million summer spree.
The Gunners’ No 1 priority is bringing in a top-level central midfielder and they are confident of landing Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi for around £50m.
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Now new sporting director Andrea Berta is doing the sums to see if they can also afford an elite centre-forward AND a game-changing winger.
Berta knows he will have to generate significant income by selling players in order to raise the cash to prise Gyokeres from Sporting and Williams from Athletic Bilbao.
But Gunners chiefs are determined to do all they can to give boss Mikel Arteta the superstar signings he needs to win the Premier League title.
With Jorginho and Thomas Partey both set to leave the Emirates on free transfers this summer, it will be essential to buy Zubimendi or another top defensive midfielder.
Arsenal also need to bring in a second-choice keeper when on-loan Neto returns to Bournemouth.
A prolific striker is seen as a key target, with a new winger more of a luxury.
But Emirates chiefs would love both.
Their chances depend in part on whether Sporting and Athletic Bilbao hold out for release clauses for Gyokeres and Williams, believed to be £83.6m and £49m respectively.
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If negotiations prove difficult, Arsenal could choose to pursue cheaper strikers, such as RB Leipzig ace Benjamin Sesko or Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike, in order to free up money for Williams.
Alternatively, the club could go all in on proven Prem scorer Alexander Isak, valued by Newcastle at more than £100m.
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If Arsenal agreed to pay that sort of fee, they would pass on wideman Williams, whose wage demands may be an issue.
But former Atletico Madrid chief Berta is thought to be a big fan of Gyokeres and was reported to have met Williams’ agent Felix Tainta just days after officially taking up his new role.
Arsenal do have to keep an eye on Profit and Sustainability Rules.
They made losses of £52.1m in 2022-23 and £17.7m in 2023-24 — despite their highest-ever revenue (£616.6m) last season thanks to a Champions League return.
The departures of Jorginho, Partey and Kieran Tierney will free up money in the wage budget.
Yet Arsenal will also need to find generous buyers for the likes of Oleksandr Zinchenko and Leandro Trossard.
Gabriel Jesus and Takehiro Tomiyasu would have been off but long-term injuries scuppered those plans.
