Arsenal - Mikel Arteta
Image credit: Getty Images
Arsenal have been handed a golden opportunity to strengthen their attacking options, with PSV Eindhoven reportedly open to selling Belgian starlet Johan Bakayoko for just €20 million (£17 million) this summer.
According toEindhovens Dagblad, the Dutch giants are ready to cash in on the 22-year-old as he enters the final year of his contract at the Philips Stadion. The report claims that PSV are willing to accept a cut-price fee to avoid losing the player for free next year, a dramatic drop from the £37 million offer Brentford had accepted two years ago before Bakayoko turned the move down.
The same publication previously revealed that Arsenal had made initial enquiries about the winger nearly 12 months ago, and with Bakayoko now potentially available at a bargain price, the Gunners could reignite their interest.
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The need for depth on the right wing became painfully clear last season when star man Bukayo Saka suffered an injury against Crystal Palace in December. Saka’s absence stretched over three months, a period during which Arsenal lost vital ground in the Premier League title race, with Liverpool surging ahead. With no natural back-up to the England international, manager Mikel Arteta lacked options in key matches.
Arsenal - Johan Bakayoko
Johan Bakayoko (Image credit: Getty Images)
Bakayoko, who rose through the ranks at PSV and made his senior debut at just 19, enjoyed an impressive 2023/24 campaign, contributing 12 goals and three assists. His overall record for the club now stands at 63 goals and 40 assists in 207 senior appearances, remarkable numbers for a player of his age.
Despite his youth, Bakayoko is already a senior international with 18 caps for Belgium and was part of their preparations for Euro 2024. Speaking toED last year, he expressed ambition to play at the highest level while remaining focused on his development.
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“I can handle a place at the top. If I were to leave Eindhoven, it would only be to a club that plays for trophies, just like PSV,” he said. “Becoming champion is what I want. And win the Champions League. I have the qualities for that.”
He added, “Now we have to see whether there will be a next mission and what the club has left for me.”
With PSV now granting what amounts to a £17 million pass for one of their brightest academy products, Arsenal may see this as the perfect chance to secure a quality back-up and potential future starter for Saka, while solving a long-standing squad depth issue.
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