Arsenal target hints at exit as new transfer chief identifies three signings

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal face a home game against Fulham to kick-start their Premier League season after the international break – and there’s still plenty to play for as they look to keep their faint title hopes alive and progress in Europe

Arsenal might not be involved in the FA Cup this weekend after their early-round exit, but Mikel Arteta will be grateful for the extra days of recovery and preparation as they prepare to face Fulham on Tuesday night.

The Gunners still have faint hopes of pipping Liverpool to the Premier League title, but they will need to have a near-perfect end to the campaign after falling 15 points behind the Reds.

Arteta is also getting ready for a huge Champions League quarter-final tie against Real Madrid, with the first leg at the Emirates next week, so there’s still plenty to play for.

With that in mind, Mirror Football has broken down all the latest Arsenal news and gossip you need to know.

READ MORE: New Arsenal transfer chief Andrea Berta signed Ballon d’Or winner for just £16.5mREAD MORE: Mikel Arteta on brink of completing first Arsenal summer transfer with ‘deal done’

Cunha wants to leave Wolves

One of Arsenal’s biggest disappointments this season will undoubtedly be their failure to bring in a new striker in either transfer window.

The Gunners’ lack of firepower has cost them and caused them to be left behind by Arne Slot’s impressive Liverpool team, which boasts star forwards like Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo.

Arsenal were linked with a host of strikers in January, including Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins and Wolves star Matheus Cunha.

Unfortunately for Arteta, no move came to fruition for any of those players, despite the club making a late move for Watkins, with a transfer for Cunha also ruled out after he signed a new contract at Molineux.

But now the Brazilian – who has 13 goals for Vitor Pereira’s side this season – has now revealed he wants a new challenge next season and challenge for honours at the highest level. Arsenal could be given hope of striking a deal for Cunha in the summer after he insisted he wanted to “fight for titles”, saying it was not possible for him to leave mid-season.

“I had a lot of offers (to leave in January) but I wouldn’t feel well if I had done it,” Cunha told the Guardian. “Some things you can’t control but I couldn’t leave the club in the middle of the season, in a difficult situation, in the relegation zone.

“Now, we’re close to achieving our goal [of staying up]. But I’ve made it clear that I need to take the next step. I want to fight for titles, for big things. I have potential.”

Berta pinpoints three new signings

Arsenal fans should be optimistic over the future after finally getting their new transfer chief through the door. Andrea Berta has arrived and been tasked with bringing quality to the Emirates that will turn the club into title winners.

The 53-year-old will play a key role in Arsenal’s transfer business this summer as he looks to identify the signings that can help the Gunners compete with Liverpool next season – plus the threat of a resurgent Manchester City.

It’s clear that Arsenal need a new forward and that will be top of the list, with Red Bull Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko said to be high on their shortlist of targets in that area.

But Mirror Football reported that Berta will also be looking for a new left winger a defensive midfielder.

We know Arsenal are closing in on a move for Real Soceidad midfielder Martin Zubimendi while Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams is also a target.

Further down the priority list is a new back-up goalkeeper, with uncertainty around the future of on-loan Bournemouth shot-stopper Neto. The club tried to bring in Espanyol keeper Joan Garcia last summer and might have another crack at him at the end of the season.

Arsenal will also be looking to top up their talent pool with more young prospects and they could make another move for Norway wonderkid Sverre Nypan after holding talks over him earlier in the season.

Arsenal could profit from Saints fire sale

This might not be news related to an incoming signing, but it will certainly be of interest to Arsenal if it means having more money in the war chest to devote to new arrivals.

Having already sold Aaron Ramsdale to Southampton last summer, Arsenal could stand to profit if the goalkeeper switches clubs again in the next transfer window, with the club set to be relegated to the Championship imminently.

Ramsdale will be eager to stay at the highest level in order to stay in contention for the England squad and there could be interest in the former Bournemouth shot-stopper.

The Gunners negotiated a sell-on clause when he joined the south coast club for £18m at the start of the season, so Arsenal will watch on with interest to see what happens with his future.

He is just one of many Southampton stars who could look to jump ship when they are inevitably sent down – which could happen in the coming weeks as they sit on just nine points – 17 points from safety.

Young talent Tyler Dibling is also expected to depart for an eye-watering fee that could each as high as £100m, with Tottenham, Manchester City and Manchester United all said to be interested.

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