EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal set Biereth transfer stance amid summer interest

Steve Kay

• Updated: 30 Mar 2024 06:42 CDT
• 3 min read

Exclusive

Arsenal have no intention of selling Mika Biereth this summer despite interest from Sturm Graz, sources have told FootballTransfers.

Mikel Arteta wants to bring the striker on the Gunners’ pre-season tour of the United States of America and is not interested in offloading him on a permanent deal.

Biereth, 21, is currently on loan at Sturm Graz and the Austrian side are interested in keeping him next season after his impressive start to life at the club; Biereth has scored eight goals in just 11 games following his January move.

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However, Arsenal are not ready for the Denmark U21 international to depart permanently.

Biereth spent the first half of this season on loan at Scottish Premiership side Motherwell before being sent to Sturm Graz after bagging six goals and five assists in 15 matches north of the English border.

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Arsenal’s summer transfer plans

While Biereth is set to return to Arsenal in pre-season, the Gunners remain interested in signing a new number nine. We understand that Sporting CP goal machine Viktor Gyokeres is currently the Gunners’ priority target ahead of the summer window.

The Sweden international only moved to Portugal from Coventry City last year, but he has notched 50 goals and assists in just 39 games this season and is seen as the perfect man to improve Arteta’s starting XI ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.

Elsewhere, it is currently unlikely that Aaron Ramsdale will join Chelsea. The England international has been usurped by David Raya as Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper this season, however a move to Stamford Bridge is not likely.

Newcastle United are also interested in signing Ramsdale and joining Eddie Howe’s side is a far more realistic possibility than signing for Chelsea.

Arsenal are expected to sign at least three players this summer, while the same number of outgoings are anticipated. As previously reported, Eddie Nketiah, Emile Smith Rowe and Reiss Nelson are likely to leave the club.