Arsenal news: Striker set for huge new offer as summer transfer priority identified

View 3 Images

Speculation is already revolving around Arsenal ’s transfer activity this summer despite plenty more football still to be played this season. The Gunners are awaiting the end of the current international break, with several players away with their nations , before facing Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-finals on April 4.

The break came at an opportune moment to reflect on and bounce back from their dismal 2-0 defeat to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final - arguably their most significant loss of the season so far.

However, Mikel Arteta ’s side are still top of the Premier League table, which they lead by nine points. They also have a Champions League quarter-final tie against Sporting CP to look forward to in the coming weeks, for which they are the favourites to win.

Now, Mirror Football takes a look at two of the latest stories involving the north London club.

FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE! Latest Gunners news and more on our dedicated Facebook page

Jamie Carragher believes signing a superstar attacker should be Arsenal ’s priority in the summer transfer window. The Gunners have been criticised this season for their lack of creativity in the final third, exacerbated by key players like Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka failing to meet the lofty expectations they had previously set.

Saka, Arteta’s best attacker, has managed just nine goals in all competitions so far. And pundit Carragher thinks they will need to bring in a talisman in the mould of Mohamed Salah this summer, claiming that the forward line "hasn’t clicked" at all this season.

Carragher explained when analysing Arteta's side on The Overlap: "I don’t think it will affect the league because Arsenal have got such a big gap. But my thing with Arsenal now – and you could probably say this with every team in the Premier League – is there’s not enough special players.

View 3 Images

"Arsenal are the best team in the league and have an amazing record but I still look at the attack and think it’s only okay. There’s no star player and sometimes you need that player when you’re not playing well, like they weren't in the cup final.

"I don’t think Arsenal have enough special players in attack and that would worry me a bit for the Champions League. I thought two years ago that [Bukayo] Saka and [Martin] Odegaard were going to be the real deal and be like [Mohamed] Salah and [Kevin] De Bruyne. They were nearly there.

"Arsenal are probably going to win the league but if they do I don’t think any of the attacking players will think they’ve had an amazing season. It’s just not clicked."

View 3 Images

Arsenal target Julian Alvarez is reportedly set to receive a bumper contract offer from Atletico Madrid in an effort to keep him at the club. The Argentine forward, 26, has been linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium in recent weeks ahead of the summer window.

Arteta is understood to be a long-term admirer of the former Manchester City forward, having been in the market for a potential move before he joined Atletico in 2024. Gunners sporting director Andrea Berta was in fact the man who signed Alvarez for Atletico, prior to his own north London move.

Barcelona and Chelsea have also been mentioned as potential destinations for Alvarez. But the striker, who has scored 17 goals this season, could be tempted to remain with the La Liga side as Atletico are prepared to make him one of their highest earners.

Mundo Deportivo claim Atletico are ready to meet Alvarez's financial demands after initially stalling, with a proposed salary of around €10million (£8m) per year - an increase on the €7m (£6m) he currently earns. The Colchoneros are reportedly confident he will commit his long‑term future to the club, a decision that would make it far harder for Arsenal to tempt him away.