Revealed: Arsenal’s three-man £180m summer shortlist

Robin Bairner

• 3 Feb 2022 08:47 GMT
• 3 min read

Arsenal were the Premier League club that suffered arguably the most frustrating January transfer window.

The Gunners saw all their main targets pass them by. Dusan Vlahovic left Fiorentina for Juventus without giving the London club even an acknowledgement, while the central midfielder that manager Mikel Arteta said he wanted when the window was opening did not arrive.

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Furthermore, they lost striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Barcelona, leaving them without their disgraced captain but also with only two options at centre-forward in the form of Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah.

No surprise, then, that is it these areas of the team that they will be foremost seeking to strengthen during the summer window.

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Who are Arsenal targeting in the summer?

According to The Sun, the three players that Arsenal have in mind for the summer are all players who were on their mind this January.

Real Sociedad striker Alexander Isak leads the way. He was a player who was looked at as an alternative to Vlahovic, though the Gunners were unwilling to match the player’s release clause, which is what his club demanded be paid if the Swede was depart. The Gunners reportedly bid £58m (€70m) for him, but this was short of his £75m (€90m) release fee.

Secondly, it will come as little surprise to see Everton hitman Dominic Calvert-Lewin on their shortlist. The England international could arrive as well as Isak because both Nketiah and Lacazette are out of contract in the summer. Even if one should leave – and Lacazette is being courted by Lyon – then the Gunners would realistically need to look at bringing in two centre forwards.

Finally, Arsenal will look elsewhere in the Premier League to strengthen in the midfield. Ruben Neves of Wolves was linked with them during January and is set to be a summer target, too. His asking price has been around the £40m mark.

In total, Arsenal are allocating £180m for the signings of Isak, Calvert-Lewin and Neves, but such money will be required to challenge for the top four next season.