Arsenal are interested in boyhood fan Ollie Watkins and have placed the Aston Villa striker on their four-striker wish list.
Alexander Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah are both out of contract this summer and are leaving Arsenal as things stand.
That means Arsenal need to sign at least two strikers this summer to bolster Mikel Arteta’s squad for next season and beyond.
The Mirror now claim that Arsenal have a four-striker wish list for this summer as they pursue reinforcements.
Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Benfica’s Darwin Nunez and Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus are on the list.
Arsenal are interested in Ollie Watkins
The fourth name on the list is Aston Villa star Watkins.
That’s a name that hasn’t been mentioned with Arsenal for a while now.
Watkins, 26, has only scored 10 Premier League goals in 32 games this season but continues to look a real threat.
Watkins is quick and able to pull defenders into channels, whilst his pressing ability will massively appeal to Mikel Arteta.
Arsenal may appeal to Watkins too as he actually grew up as a Gunners fan.
Watkins admitted to Pro Direct Soccer that he was a ‘big’ Arsenal fan when growing up.
Watkins also shared his love for Arsenal legend Thierry Henry.
If Arsenal come calling, you have to assume that Watkins would jump at the chance to join his boyhood club.
West Ham want Watkins too
That’s a massive blow to West Ham. The Guardian claim that the Hammers fancy bringing Watkins to East London this summer.
Villa allegedly want around £50million for Watkins this summer. That may make a move to Arsenal seem more realistic than joining West Ham.
With West Ham also linked with Nketiah, it may well be that Nketiah heads to the London Stadium and that frees up Watkins to replace Nketiah at Arsenal.
That makes it something of a striker merry-go-round this summer – and you can expect Arsenal to be at the heart of it.
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