Arsenal eye Alexander Isak and Michael Olise in search for striker and winger | Arsenal

Arsenal are concentrating on a striker and winger in the summertime to strengthen Mikel Arteta’s squad after their hopes of reaching a primary Champions League semi-final since 2009 were ended by Bayern Munich.

Successive defeats against Aston Villa and Bayern have left Arsenal’s possibilities of silverware this season counting on Manchester Metropolis slipping up within the Premier League title race with six video games to play after Arteta’s aspect completed as runners-up final 12 months. There have been indicators of ­progress since greater than £200m was spent final summer season on Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurriën Timber however the proprietor, Kroenke Sports activities & Leisure (KSE), recognises that Arteta’s squad wants vital strengthening to assist them take the subsequent step.

It’s understood that ­Newcastle’s striker Alexander Isak is likely one of the major targets. He might value about £100m and was closely scouted by Arsenal earlier than his move to St James’ Park in August 2022 for an preliminary £63m. ­Arsenal have additionally been ­closely linked with Isak’s Sweden teammate Viktor Gyökeres, who has scored 36 targets this season for ­Sporting in ­Portugal after becoming a member of from ­Coventry final 12 months and has an £86m buyout clause. The Juventus and Serbia striker Dusan Vlahovic might be one other different however Arsenal’s curiosity is believed to have cooled in Brentford’s Ivan Toney.

Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise, who signed a brand new four-year contract in August after turning down Chelsea, is known to be a possible ­goal after impressing Arsenal’s scouting division regardless of making solely 9 Premier League begins this marketing campaign owing to harm. The France Beneath-21 ­ahead’s contract features a launch clause that comes into impact in the summertime and is known to be within the area of £65m. He’s additionally being closely tracked by Manchester Metropolis and Manchester United amongst others.

Arsenal should take care to not fall foul of the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability guidelines however the membership’s sporting director, Edu, is predicted to be given an identical price range to final 12 months’s by the non-executive director Josh Kroenke. KSE reported a £2.3bn improve in its worth ­in contrast with the earlier 12 months after the ­success of its varied groups throughout a number of sports activities, together with the Denver Nuggets basketball franchise that won a first NBA title final 12 months.

Arsenal intend to rally round Arteta’s squad after their tough week. The captain, Martin Ødegaard, mentioned the gamers had been devastated after shedding 1-0 within the second leg to Bayern and had to make use of that disappointment as motivation after they face Wolves on Saturday.

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“It takes a bit bit to get going once more, however I believe what you play for within the league is sufficient motivation for all of us,” Ødegaard mentioned. “So we simply have to stay collectively, get again up and preserve pushing. We will nonetheless do one thing very particular. I believe that’s sufficient motivation.”

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