Udinese star Lorenzo Lucca is the latest striker to be linked with Arsenal and his arrival could help Mikel Arteta solve a double problem.
The Gunners are keen to bolster their attacking ranks in the summer transfer window with Newcastle's Alexander Isak and Nico Williams of Athletic Club two long-term targets.
Sanctioning a deal for either, however, appears difficult with Isak expected to command a sizeable transfer fee and Williams demanding wages that would likely make him Arsenal's highest-paid player.
With new sporting director Andre Berta set for a challenge to sign one let alone both, alternatives have unsurprisingly been looked into.
Benjamin Sesko, Hugo Ekitike, Moise Kean and Bryan Mbuemo are just a few names to have also been linked while Lucca is the newest. The 24-year-old has thus far impressed back in Serie A on a permanent basis after spending last season on loan from Ajax at Udinese.
From 28 appearances in all competitions, he has bagged 10 goals with his side sitting comfortably in mid-table after just avoiding relegation last season.
Alongside Arsenal, Liverpool, Nottingham Forest and AC Milan have all been keeping tabs on his situation with reports in Italy claiming he could be allowed to leave for just £25million.
Those impressive performances over the last few months also saw him rewarded with call-ups to the Italian national team, though the competition for places up top has thus far seen him play 18 minutes.
He is a very similar physical profile to the strikers Arsenal have on their radar but there is one telling advantage he has. Though both Isak and Sesko are tall, Lucca stands at an impressive 6ft6ins which makes it quite clear how much of a threat he is in the box.
If Arsenal opt to sign him, assists for Bukayo Saka would surely fly in, but it would also benefit two others. Martin Odegaard's creative threat has deteriorated this season but he has shown his incisiveness in the final third since arriving for £30million from Real Madrid and with Lucca in front of him, the direct goal contributions will come.
Ben White is another who could certainly find joy with Lucca in the box as Arsenal have greatly missed his overlapping runs while both he and Saka have been out due to long-term injuries.
While Jurrien Timber has done a superb job covering at right-back, Arteta could revert back to White and Saka on that side.
From 150 appearances in all competitions for the Gunners since joining for £50million in the summer of 2021 from Brighton, White has managed just 11 assists but that could quite easily double in half the time if Lucca is his target from crosses in the box.
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Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus with the Arsenal Therapy Dog Win during the Arsenal Men's team group shoot at London Colney on September 18, 2023
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