Arsenal sets sights on a Serie A striker worth €80m following a change in focus from Ivan Toney by Mikel Arteta…

Arsenal have set their sights on a €80m Serie A striker as they look to bolster their attacking options.

Mikel Arteta has shifted his focus away from Ivan Toney and is now keen on bringing in a new striker to provide competition for Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz.

Joshua Zirkzee of Bologna is among their top targets, as exclusively revealed by TEAMtalk. The Gunners hierarchy have already informed Eddie Nketiah that he is free to find a new club this summer, meaning they will need to bring in a replacement for him as well.

Despite currently sitting second in the Premier League table, two points behind Manchester City with a game in hand, Arsenal believe that signing a prolific striker would greatly benefit their cause. In recent weeks, they have been linked with several exciting targets.

Arsenal have shifted their focus away from Brentford’s Ivan Toney, as Mikel Arteta is looking for a different type of player. Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP is also on their radar, but his £86m release clause may be too costly.

Additionally, Arsenal are considering a move for Joshua Zirkzee, with the Italian outlet Tuttosport reporting that his recent performances have caught their attention.

Zirkzee, who currently plays for Bologna after transferring from Bayern Munich in 2022, has scored 10 goals in 29 Serie A matches this season.

According to Tuttosport, Bayern Munich is reportedly interested in bringing back Zirkzee, but the player seems hesitant to return to Germany. This news is a positive development for other clubs pursuing him, especially since there is a €40m (£34.2m) buyback clause in his contract.

Arsenal, Juventus, and AC Milan are currently seen as the top contenders in the race to sign the 22-year-old Dutch international.

Aston Villa is also showing interest in Zirkzee, potentially setting up a competition with Arsenal for his services in the near future.

Zirkzee has shown significant progress this season and is expected to continue improving with more playing time, making him a promising long-term investment for the Gunners.

Bologna is reportedly looking to set the price for Zirkzee at around €80m (approximately £68.5m) this summer.

With the player considered crucial to the team and under contract until 2026, they have the upper hand in negotiations. It will be intriguing to observe Arsenal’s potential bid for Zirkzee in the upcoming transfer window.