Alan Shearer has claimed that he is ‘no doubt’ Arsenal will be in for a ‘big hitter’ when the summer transfer window opens after failing to land Dušan Vlahović.
Mikel Arteta is searching for that all-important striker this summer, especially with Eddie Nketiah and stand-in captain, Alexandre Lacazette, out-of-contract in June.
Many were expecting Arsenal to possibly spend big on a striker in January, with suggestions they pushed for Vlahović, only for the player to join Juventus instead from Fiorentina.
When Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang left, things started to pick up for the Gunners, only for a few costly slip-ups in recent weeks, although they have won back-to-back matches now.
All in all, come the summer, some big decisions have to be made, including on someone like Nketiah, as Shearer is expecting big things in the transfer market, as he told BBC Radio 5 Live Sport.
“Nketiah has had chances, been out on loan and it hasn’t really worked for him,” said Shearer. “Out-of-contract in the summer.
“There is a lot of talk that Arsenal obviously wanted a centre-forward in January and they weren’t able to get Vlahovic.
“So there’s no doubt that they will be in for a big hitter someone in the summer.”
With someone like Nketiah, in terms of the season as a whole, he hasn’t been good enough to probably earn that contract.
Although, his brace against Chelsea was valuable in Arteta trying to push Arsenal for a return to the Champions League.
Even if someone like Nketiah stays on board and signs a new contract, the Gunners still need another face up top.
Either way, securing Champions League football will go a long way in securing the real top talents in Europe compared to a less proven star if they end in the Europa League.
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