Arsenal have a swap deal ready for €70M rated forward

Arsenal made one of the most high-profile transfers of the summer period this year, bringing in Bologna’s breakout star Riccardo Calafiori to displace Oleksandr Zinchcenko as the starting left back alongside fellow world-class defenders William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes.

As Arsenal close in on the signing of Real Sociedad star Mikel Merino, their next focus – or even simultaneous focus as they continue to wrap things up with the Spanish international – will be landing another top forward to add to their collection of Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Leandro Trossard.

For the most part, Arsenal have been linking to out-and-out strikers like Napoli star Victor Osimhen, but there’s another school of thought that says the Gunners could go after a talented winger to either back Saka up or give competition to Martinelli on the left.

Or maybe, Arsenal will go after an underrated star attacker who is capable of playing at a starting-caliber level at any of the three positions in the 4-3-3 in Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman.

According to a report from Alfredo Pedulla, Lookman is holding out of training for Atalanta in preparation for a sudden transfer, and Arsenal are already in transfer talks with La Dea for an offer on the table of 50 million euros plus bonuses.

Per Pedulla, Arsenal are even considering sending defender Jakub Kiwior to Bergamo as part of a deal to acquire Lookman. A former Serie A standout in his own right, Kiwior joined Arsenal from Spezia in the winter 2023 market and did get starts over Zinchenko by the end of the 2023/24 season.

However, with Calafiori joining the Gunners, Kiwior’s development is now blocked, and a return to Serie A has been rumored. The Juventus track has cooled, so Atalanta could be the ones to benefit from Kiwior, who ideally fits Gian Piero Gasperini’s three-man back.

Atalanta are reportedly hoping to get between 65 and 70 million euros for Lookman, but even they have to understand that this price point is entirely unrealistic, even if Lookman is coming off two great seasons with La Dea.

Formerly a bust for RB Leipzig and Everton, Lookman has turned his career around in Italy after a massive breakout campaign in 2022/23, his first with La Dea. Lookman would have had more playing time next season, too, after striker Gianluca Scamacca’s injury.

Lookman has scored 24 goals with 13 assists in the last two seasons combined for Atalanta in Serie A. He would be a great addition to Arsenal, but a fee of 50 million euros in total value should be the maximum that Arsenal offer to the 26-year-old forward, who wouldn’t be an every-game starter in North London.