Arsenal's summer transfer window looks set to be a busy one, with technical director keen to sign at least one striker, football.london understands.
Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah are into the final few weeks of their contracts at the Emirates Stadium and football.london understands that Gabriel Jesus and Tammy Abraham have both been shortlisted as potential targets for the centre-forward position. Now, The Athletic have reported that Czech youngster Adam Hlozek is also of interest to the Gunners as a backup to a more established frontman.
With that being said, who exactly is Hlozek and what qualities would he bring to the north London club if he was to arrive in the coming months.
READ MORE: Arsenal reportedly open Richarlison talks as Barcelona set £17m price for Dutch star
Who is Adam Hlozek?
Aged just 19, Hlozek is a talented forward born in Ivancice, Czech Republic.
He is a versatile player, currently plying his trade with Sparta Prague, frequently operating as a left-winger, an attacking midfielder or a striker.
Why do Arsenal want him?
The aforementioned contract situations of Lacazette and Nketiah mean that two forwards will likely need to arrive at the Emirates Stadium this summer. A more established number nine will be the club's marquee signing, which could leave room for a developing youngster to be the backup striker and also get game time in the domestic cups and Europa League.
Hlozek perfectly fits the bill. The teenage starlet enjoyed a stellar 2021/22 campaign, netting 12 goals and providing a further 15 assists, numbers that read even more impressive when you consider that he played all across the frontline for Sparta.
He has already played 134 games and scored 40 goals for the Czech giants, making him incredibly experienced for a 19-year-old and with plenty of room to grow, it is a signing that would make a lot of sense for Arsenal.
Hlozek stands at 6ft 2ins and he is a brilliant header of the ball, boasting the kind of physical attributes that would help him shine in the Premier League and his aerial prowess is something that the Gunners have lacked since the departure of Olivier Giroud back in January 2020.
Where would he fit in?
Despite playing a number of games on the left flank and as an advanced No.10, the youngster is certainly best when deployed as a centre-forward, a position he would get considerable game time next term. He would likely feature in the Carabao and FA Cups, as well as the early stages of the Europa League, a competition that the north Londoners have consistently given youngsters opportunities to thrive in.
Hlozak's impressive creative output and ability to bring others into play make him an ideal Mikel Arteta centre-forward, with the Spaniard consistently emphasising the need for his strikers to be heavily involved in the game.
What's been said?
The Czech international's skillset is 'reminiscent of a young Zlatan Ibrahimovic', according to scoutedftbl whilst his meteoric rise has also drawn comparisons with Manchester City-bound Erling Haaland in recent times. Arsenal hero Tomas Rosicky, who is currently Sparta's director of football, has made it no secret of his admiration for the youngster.
Speaking back in December 2019, Rosicky said: "Adam Hlozak is not only a huge talent for Sparta but also for Czech football as a whole. But we must not forget that he is still a very young player.
Zdenek Scasny, his former coach, has also previously hailed Hlozak's work ethic, claiming that he approaches training in the same manner as a match. "Adam had no fear," Scasny told Goal a few years ago.
"In training, he looks as strong as in a match. He’s an extraordinary talent that doesn’t play just because he is 16, but because he has earned it."
