Arsenal are set to reignite their transfer interest in Ollie Watkins.Arsenal are set to reignite their transfer interest in Ollie Watkins.
Arsenal are set to reignite their transfer interest in Ollie Watkins. | Getty Images
Nathan Butler-Oyedeji is out of contract this summer and tipped to quit Arsenal with a Champions League-chasing club linked.
Arsenal technical director Andrea Berta has made signing a new striker for the club this summer as a number one priority, but could see a Gunners forward leave the Emirates Stadium before any marquee incomings.
Mikel Arteta’s side have struggled without the injured Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz in recent months, falling well short of the Premier League title race and failing to score against Paris Saint-Germain at home on Tuesday night. The Gunners had made an attempt to recruit Aston Villa front man Ollie Watkins in January but those attempts were rebuffed by the Midlands outfit, who instead sanctioned the sale of Jhon Duran to Al-Nassr.
Football Insider has claimed that Berta will look to reignite interest in Watkins this summer with the England international still struggling for guaranteed gametime despite the departure of Duran. However, that may only happen after striker Nathan Butler-Oyedeji leaves the club.
FC Copenhagen target Arsenal academy product available on free transfer
The outlet claims that FC Copenhagen have made the 22-year-old a target for the summer with the player coming to the end of his current deal in north London. The forward is yet to sign a new deal with the Gunners and Norwich City are also named as a potential suitor.
Butler-Oyedeji has been prolific for the Arsenal under-21 side this season but has not been regularly thrust into Premier League action even with the injuries to Arteta’s first team. The academy product made his professional debut for the Gunners in January when coming on to replace Gabriel Martinelli in the Champions League and took his Premier League bow against Ipswich Town last month.
FC Copenhagen could offer the striker Champions League football next term, should they win the Danish Superliga, which could see the player come against Arsenal, where he has been since 2011.
Butler-Oyedeji praised for ‘unreal’ Arsenal debut
Butler-Oyedeji has also had spells with Cheltenham Town and Accrington Stanley but failed to hit the back of the net during either of those stays away from north London. Arsenal U21s coach Mehmet Ali was full of praise for the player when he made his senior debut earlier this year. Ali said: "It’s unreal for Nathan, the way that the boys were on the bench went to congratulate him after, the way that our boss had the faith and trust to bring him on the pitch.
"Nathan is someone who is an older player but what he does every single day in terms of his professionalism, how he’s a role model for the younger lads, he goes over and trains with the first team, he deserved that (first-team appearance), he earned that and that’s what our manager is all about.
"It’s not a given, you don’t just get that, that’s a lot of hard work that’s contributed to Nathan getting on the pitch and he played tonight so I’m really proud of him and he just needs to keep going and keep pushing."
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