Arsenal make BREAKTHROUGH in €60m transfer

Arsenal are closing in on their first summer signing, according to reports in Italy, which indicate that Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee is looking increasingly probable to sign for the club.

Mikel Arteta is known to be on the lookout for a centre-forward, despite Arsenal leading the way in the Premier League scoring charts with 82 goals in 34 games.

Sporting CP hitman Viktor Gyokeres is one option they are currently studying, although the Sweden international’s €100 million-plus price tag could put them off, despite the ex-Coventry striker being the preferred option of Arteta.

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The print edition of Tuttosport, meanwhile, indicates the Gunners have enjoyed a breakthrough in their hopes of landing Zirkzee, who has been one of European football’s revelations over the course of the last campaign.

The Dutchman has scored 11 Serie A goals and generated five assists for Thiago Motta’s as they have charged up the table into unexpected Champions League contention.

He could be Arsenal-bound in the summer, though.

The Italian source reports that the Gunners have been granted the opportunity to speak to Zirkzee’s agent, Kia Joorabchian.

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Zirkzee a comparative bargain

The Gunners are ready to pay €60m to Bologna for the striker, who has been offered a five-year deal worth €6m per year to the striker. As such, the total value of this transaction to the Gunners is set to be in the region of €90m.

While this is a sizeable fee, it represents a cost less than just the initial outlay that Arsenal may need to spend to secure Gyokeres, so from that perspective makes financial sense.

Zirkzee v Gyokeres: Development

Data analytics firm SciSports believes that Zirkzee will ultimately become a superior player to the Swede, which suggests that paying the premium to sign Gyokeres is only worth it if Arteta wants a short-term impact, which is not something that tallies with his typical philosophy.