Arsenal latest side to declare interest in Ligue 1 striker

Updated: July 25, 2022 at 8:25 pm GMT+1

Reports stemming from Italy have linked Arsenal with a new striker ahead of the summer transfer window.

It is, of course, obvious that Arsenal are in desperate need of some fresh legs in the centre-forward spot.

Alexandre Lacazette is currently their only half-decent option in this department, but the Frenchman is out of contract in the summer and is struggling to score goals anyway – netting just two from open play in the Premier League this term.

So, as well as signing another experienced central midfielder and potentially another full-back, Arsenal really need a new number nine in the summer.

One option seemingly being looked at is OGC Nice star Amine Gouiri. Football.london, citing Italian outlet Calciomercato, report that the Gunners are the latest to declare an interest in Gouiri, whilst AC Milan and Sevilla are also tracking the Frenchman.

No potential transfer fee for the player who is under contract until 2024, is mentioned in the report.

Gouiri’s Nice stint

Amine Gouiri joined Ligue 1 side OGC Nice from Lyon in July of 2020. The French outfit are understood to have paid around £6.3m to bring the forward in.

And, after struggling to gain a foothold in Lyon’s senior side, the 22-year-old has now cemented himself as a key figure for Nice.

All told, Gouiri has featured on 75 occasions for Nice, during which he has scored an impressive 28 goals and provided 16 assists.

Gouiri has also had a particularly solid 2021/22 campaign. So far, he has found the net 12 times and provided eight assists in just 34 clashes this term.

Said stats suggest that, like Lacazette, Gouiri is the type of centre-forward who can drop deeper to create opportunities for his teammates, which is something Mikel Arteta demands from his strikers.