Arsenal have been told by former midfielder Emmanuel Petit to sign Brighton duo Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo alongside another surprising Premier League star. The Gunners have shown interest in both Mac Allister and Caicedo with the latter the recipient of two unsuccessful bids from north London in the January transfer window.
Injury concerns surrounding Thomas Partey prompted Arsenal to enter the market for a midfielder with Caicedo as their main target. Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi also had admirers at the Emirates Stadium, but the Gunners now have a new priority target for the summer.
West Ham star Declan Rice is top of the summer transfer wish list for Arsenal, football.london understands. "I'm a big fan of Declan Rice. It is time for him to leave West Ham and play at a higher level to reach his potential," Petit said when speaking to Boyle Sports last month. "I'm also still a big fan of Mac Allister and Caicedo from Brighton, since I first saw them play. I know Arsenal won't try and buy them all, but they would also fit next to Rice really well."
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Caicedo has since had a £100million price tag placed on his shoulders and signed a new contract at Amex Stadium, but the future of his teammate Mac Allister is certainly up in the air.
The Gunners have been linked with a summer move for the World Cup winner, but they aren't the only London club interested as Chelsea are also keeping tabs on the Argentina and football.london understands he is a serious option for the Blues.
TyC Sports also reports that Mac Allister, who is valued at €60million (£51million) by CIES Football Observatory, is of interest to Manchester United and Liverpool. The report adds that two of the clubs are "already negotiating" for a potential transfer ahead of the summer window in a couple of months. It doesn't add which ones are in discussions, however it does suggest that at the very least some early interest is being followed up.
Edu bringing either of the Brighton pair to Arsenal from the south coast would be a massive coup, but former Gunner Emmanuel Petit believes Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins should also be a target for the league leaders.
Petit told StadiumAstro: "The Aston Villa striker, Watkins. I think he has a margin to improve more at the highest level.
"This is my question, actually, if he can perform at the highest level. But in terms of quality, I think he has improved a lot for the last two years. If he keeps on doing what he's doing, he's scoring goals almost every game, he's in really good form. I think some top clubs will have their eyes on him."
Watkins netted goal number 13 in the Premier League this season in Villa's latest victory against Nottingham Forest. Former Arsenal boss Unai Emery has been able to get the best out of Watkins following his appointment in October, but his potential arrival could complicate the attacking options for Arteta.
Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Jesus are already at the club with Folarin Balogun returning from a loan spell in the summer. Signing Watkins, who the Gunners have been linked with earlier this year and during the summer of 2020 when he joined Villa from Brentford, would likely leave Arsenal with four strikes that are all deserving of being the starting striker.
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