Arteta names first choice Arsenal striker target to replace outgoing frontman

Mikel Arteta has identified the man he wants at Arsenal to replace the outgoing Alexandre Lacazette next summer, it has been claimed.

Lacazette, 30, is almost certainly leaving the Gunners when his contract expires at the end of the season. The Frenchman has never set the Premier League alight, though he has bagged 10 or more league goals in each of his four campaigns to date. These are goals that will need replacing.

The requirement for a new striker runs deeper than just Lacazette’s departure, too. Eddie Nketiah will likely be on his way out as well.

That would mean just Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang remains in Arteta’s ranks of options for up front. Therefore, a significant signing is required.

Planning is well under way for this, it would seem. According to Fichajes.net, Luka Jovic is the ‘chosen one’ by the Spanish manager.

They report the 23-year-old wants to leave Real Madrid ‘as soon as possible’. His time with the club has been a major disappointment.

Jovic joined Los Blancos for a fee in the region of £57m in 2019. He had impressed in Germany with Eintracht Frankfurt.

But a lacklustre first 18 months in the Spanish capital led to the Serbian international being loaned back to the Bundesliga side for the second half of last season.

And after returning to his parent club for the new campaign and learning his chances under new manager Carlo Ancelotti would be limited, he now wants out.

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So far this season he has made just six appearances which in total has seen him on the pitch for 84 minutes.

Real are said to be happy to fulfil Jovic’s wish. That’s because his sale will help to raise funds for the fight to sign Erling Haaland.

There will be three years left on his contract come next summer. As such, the La Liga side will hope to recoup most of the fee they paid for him.

Gunners fall behind in winger chase

Meanwhile, Liverpool have taken a shock lead in the race to sign a Dutch winger linked with Arsenal and Leeds. And his manager’s comments suggest a January deal is viable.

Over the past few months, the future destination of Netherlands flyer Noa Lang has set the rumour mill spinning.

The 22-year-old moved to Club Brugge on a permanent deal this summer after impressing on loan from Ajax last year.

Arsenal were deemed to be ‘eager’ to land the wide forward and were contemplating a January raid…

READ MORE: Liverpool surge ahead in Leeds, Arsenal transfer battle after manager relents