Arsenal are eyeing a sensational summer swoop for Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele.
The Gunners will have Andrea Berta leading their recruitment drive, thanks to the Italian being appointed as their new sporting director at the end of March. Having replaced Edu in the executive role, Berta has been holding conversations with boss Mikel Arteta over which targets to prioritise.
Gabriel Jesus suffered an ACL damage against Manchester United at the start of the year, while Kai Havertz has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a hamstring injury. Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli have also spent time on the sidelines, forcing Arteta to use Mikel Merino as a false No.9 in recent weeks and months.
Now, plans are being put in place to acquire further firepower in attack to fortify their hopes of winning the Premier League title next season. Arsenal are reportedly one of Ousmane Dembele’s biggest admirers, but face competition from Premier League rivals Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea for the PSG forward’s signature.
Ousmane Dembele is wanted by Arsenal
Dembele, 27, has enjoyed a standout season in PSG colours. The Frenchman has bagged an eye-catching 32 goals in 42 matches across all competitions this season. He played a key role in helping the Les Parisians beat Aston Villa 5-4 on aggregate in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals earlier this week, with Luis Enrique’s side booking a mouthwatering semi-final showdown with Arsenal.
This will give Arteta and Arsenal a chance to get a closer look at Dembele, though fans will of course be hoping the two-footed attacker fails to turn up in these two games. A positive performance could convince Berta to make a push for the 27-year-old, who still has three years left on his contract at Parc des Princes. On top of that, the PSG hierarchy want to reward the France international’s stellar performances with a new, improved contract.
So, one would imagine it is going to be extremely tough for the North Londoners to lure Dembele away from Paris at the end of the season. Capable of playing centrally as well as out wide, the ex-Barcelona would be a fantastic addition to Arsenal’s attacking ranks, enhancing their quality and giving a different dimension to their play. He’d also be an upgrade on the inconsistent Martinelli, whilst pushing Saka to reach new heights at the Emirates Stadium.
That being said, the Gunners will need to pull a rabbit out of the habit to get Dembele’s signature.
I am Rohan Sengupta from one of the busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I simply cannot live without and writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24*7.
