Arsenal’s interest in Dominic Calvert-Lewin should not be carried into the summer. The Englishman’s performances this season has highlighted that he is not the man to lead the Gunners’ frontline and into a Champions League place.
According to The Mirror, Newcastle are planning to rival Arsenal this summer in a battle to sign Calvert-Lewin from Everton. It is a battle that Edu should intend to lose in order to sign better alternatives, as the £60m being quoted for him is certainly too hefty.
The Gunners’ next transfer signing will prove crucial, and the player that is signed must hit the ground running. Considering Calvert-Lewin’s poor goalscoring record, and his injury issues this season, he is not the answer to Arsenal’s problems.
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Arsenal will be in desperate need of a new striker in the summer transfer window, with both Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah's days looking increasingly numbered. Both players’ contracts are set to expire at the end of the season and they have been linked with a move away from the club.
Crystal Palace are hopeful of signing Nketiah on a free transfer in the summer. Patrick Vieira failed to bring him at the start of this season, with the two clubs unable to agree on a fee, but this will no longer be an issue.
If he does depart from the club, along with Lacazette, then Folarin Balogun would be the only remaining striker at the club, meaning two striker signings may be required to combat the need for greater squad depth if Arsenal secure a return to the Champions League.
When signing a new striker for the next campaign, Arteta demands goals from the player, as he said: “To be with the top teams in this you need to score 90 to 100 goals at least. Somehow you need those goals in the team. Don’t ask me how, but you need them. They have to come.”
Calvert-Lewin has proven this season that he has not got the clinical nature about him that would see a major increase in Arsenal’s goals. The forward has scored just three Premier League goals in 14 games this season. It has also been a campaign where he has been hampered with injuries, which should provide another incentive for Arsenal to allow Newcastle to sign him.
Victor Osimhen is certainly the more attractive option for the summer. The Napoli forward is an athletic, quick and imposing attacker. He mixes a lightning turn of pace with long-distance speed and is certainly more than capable of being a prominent threat on the counter-attack for Arsenal.
According to Italian news outlet La Gazzette dello sport, The Gunners have set their sights on Osimhen, and are currently in the lead when it comes to important Premier League clubs chasing his signature. The report also goes on to claim that Napoli are likely to demand £82m for the striker.
Calvert-Lewin was a decent option at the start of the season. However, this campaign has proved that Arsenal are better to turn their attentions elsewhere.
