Arsenal in talks with exciting striker; ready to offer contract until 2029

It’s not a secret that Arsenal need to bolster their front line with a proven goal scorer this summer.

Kai Havertz has weighed in with his fair share of goals this season, including two more against his old side Chelsea on Tuesday, bringing his total for the 2023/24 campaign to 12 per WhoScored.

Collectively the Gunners are also the top scorers in the Premier League with 82 goals.

With Gabriel Jesus finding the net on a fairly regular basis when he’s not injured, there’s a school of thought that would suggest the North Londoners don’t have an awful lot to worry about.

Arsenal want Joshua Zirkzee this summer

However, unlike Man City and Liverpool, their rivals for this season’s title, they don’t have a difference maker like Mo Salah or Erling Haaland who can be relied upon to score most weeks.

Important goals too, that win you games when both teams are equally matched.

Bologna’s 22-year-old striker, Joshua Zirkzee, has also plundered 12 goals this season per WhoScored, but is a centre-forward in the truest sense, rather than being a player such as Havertz who is an attacking midfielder or secondary striker.

He could be expected to improve sufficiently well under Mikel Arteta as have many players over the past couple of seasons.

On page 20 of Wednesday’s printed edition of Tuttosport newspaper (h/t Football Italia), Arsenal are in talks with Zirkzee’s agent, Kia Joorabchian, and they’re ready to offer the striker a contract until 2029 with a not insignificant salary of €6m per year.

It isn’t clear at this stage how well talks are progressing, but the report also states that the player is top of their transfer wish list this summer.

The Gunners could have their work cut out too, as Milan, Aston Villa, Internazionale and Manchester United have been credited with an interest.

Joorabchian is believed to have a long-standing relationship with Arsenal, detailed by All Football, which may give the Gunners the edge in any pursuit of a player who will ultimately will decide on his next destination.