Arsenal are set for a crucial summer transfer window as Mikel Arteta looks to sign a top-quality forward to continue the rebuilding process.
The Gunners had tried to sign Dusan Vlahovic in the January transfer window, but the striker decided to join Serie A side Juventus instead.
After losing out on their main target, the north London side will now have to choose between Dominic Calvert-Lewin or Alexander Isak as their marquee striker signing in the summer.
With Arsenal not having signed a striker in the January transfer window, both attacking targets have a six-month audition to see who should be leading the line for Arteta next season.
Swedish striker Isak was heavily linked to the club last month, shortly after Edu’s failure to secure the services of Vlahovic.
However, The Athletic reported that Arsenal did not make a concrete attempt for the Real Sociedad striker, because they deemed that his £75 million release clause was not his true transfer market value.
But, the Swede has the remainder of the season to prove that he is worth the release clause his club has set for him.
Isak is equipped with bags of potential and will without a doubt be one of the best strikers in football over upcoming years, but he is still yet to justify such a high price tag. He has scored 40 goals in 110 appearances for the La Liga side.
By the end of the season, Edu will certainly have a more clear idea if Isak is ready to make the step up to the Premier League, as the 22-year-old currently has the pressure to get his team into the Champions League places next season and will have to battle with footballing giants Barcelona and Atletico Madrid to do so.
The Swedish international will also be playing in the knockout stages of the Europa League which will give Arsenal the perfect opportunity to see how he performs at crucial moments for his team.
Everton striker Calvert-Lewin has also been heavily linked with a potential move to the Emirates.
The 24-year-old would be an excellent signing to fill the striker void, as he has the necessary height and aerial dominance alongside the Premier League experience. He has scored 43 Premier League goals so far in his career, with 18 coming from his head.
However, he has not had the greatest of seasons from a scoring point of view due to the serious ankle injury he suffered early into the season, which has been made worse by Everton’s relegation scrap.
Despite this, if Calvert-Lewin has a prolific end to the season then this would be a big positive for his mentality, to be able to overcome his injury and steer his side away from relegation.
Arsenal have a major decision to make in July, as one of Isak or Calvert-Lewin could be the Gunners’ next starting striker.
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