Arsenal are said to be keen on Real Madrid winger Rodrygo, but the club reportedly identify a Premier League alternative in case they fail to land the Brazilian.
Arsenal have reportedly added Brighton & Hove Albion winger Kaoru Mitoma to their transfer list, with Mikel Arteta keen to find a starting attacker in the summer.
The Gunners narrowly beat Southampton 2-1 in their final Premier League game of the season on Sunday, finishing second for a third consecutive campaign.
However, the Londoners only claimed all three points thanks to a winner from Martin Odegaard in the closing stages of the match, and the nature of the team’s win has reignited calls for offensive reinforcements.
Arsenal’s tally of 69 goals was 16 fewer than champions Liverpool, and it would not be surprising if Arteta strengthened in attack considering his side have been routinely linked with forward players.
Transfer expert and journalist Florian Plettenberg claims that Arsenal have Brighton winger Mitoma on their summer lists, but also added that Real Madrid’s Rodrygo is considered a dream signing by sporting director Andrea Berta.
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Is Mitoma the right profile for Arsenal?
Mitoma came on as a second-half substitute against Liverpool last Monday and scored a goal, while he also registered an assist against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
The 28-year-old is at his best when he is isolated against opposition full-backs on the left side of the pitch, where his close control and dribbling ability often see him get the better of his man.
Current Arsenal wingers Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard have struggled to create opportunities in attack when isolated on the flanks, so perhaps Arteta could add Mitoma in order to bring a different skillset to his squad.
However, the Japanese international is yet to prove that he can consistently find the back of the net, with his tally of 10 Premier League goals this term his highest return in three seasons with the Seagulls.
If the Gunners are to get close to Liverpool next season, they will undoubtedly need to find more ways of finding the back of the net, and will almost certainly need to bring in a forward player capable of scoring at a similar rate to the likes of Alexander Isak.
Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres has often been linked with a move the Emirates, and his ability to dominate the box could complement Mitoma’s ability to control the left flank.
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