Arsenal have ‘done work’ on six different wingers ahead of summer transfer – one is in the Ballon d’Or conversation

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Arsenal have a six-man shortlist of wingers who they’re considering moving for in the summer transfer window, Arsenal Insider sources understand.

The Gunners are eager to bolster their forward-line in the next window, with a striker and a new dynamic wide man on the agenda.

Gabriel Jesus is out for nine months with an ACL injury, while Raheem Sterling isn’t expected to stay at the Emirates after his loan deal expires.

Thus, the North London club will need one addition at the very least, and they’ve already identified a set of options which they’ve started exploring.

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Arsenal’s six-man winger transfer shortlist

Arsenal’s interest in Nico Williams is well documented, with the Spaniard seemingly the name on everybody’s lips at the moment.

However, the 22-year-old is enduring a difficult season at Athletic Club, scoring just one La Liga goal thus far.

As a result of this decline in form, Arsenal must have several other options in the pipeline.

TBR Football’s Graeme Bailey has confirmed that there are five other names that the Gunners are considering, including an old target who Mikel Arteta is known to be a huge admirer of.

“They are looking across these wide players,” Bailey told Arsenal Insider.

“So, they’ve done work on and looked at Nico Williams, who they like a lot.

“Their number one, if there’s nothing stopping it, is Raphinha. But he’s obviously not going anywhere now, as he’s become arguably the best wide player in Europe this season, so he’s untouchable.”

Raphinha has scored 13 goals and registered six assists in 23 La Liga starts this term for Barcelona, and is being touted as a potential Ballon d’Or candidate if he can maintain this form.

A move to Arsenal is certainly very unlikely to materialise, unless the Catalan giants are forced to cash in on a key player to ease financial concerns.

“Mohamed Kudus is someone they like and done work on,” Bailey added.

“Bryan Mbeumo, Rafa Leao at Milan, Ademola Lookman as well. They’re doing their work on all these players, all of them would fit in the system.”

“They’re assessing the situation before seeing where to go with it. They are going to work on a few of them.”

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Rafael Leao should be at the top of Arsenal’s transfer list

Leao has been linked with Arsenal in the past, and it now appears that these links are indeed concrete.

The AC Milan winger isn’t enjoying the most productive campaign in Serie A, scoring five goals and registering five assists in 22 appearances.

However, his underlying data is promising, and the fact that he’s a predominantly left-sided forward makes him well suited to Arsenal’s needs.

Gabriel Martinelli has frustrated fans with his performances this season, and thus a long-term left-winger solution is needed in Arteta’s ranks, to compliment star-man Bukayo Saka on the right.

Leao’s ferocious acceleration, powerful shooting and nifty footwork makes him one of the most dangerous and threatening wide men in Europe, and this sort of threat is exactly what Arteta’s team is missing at times with their conservative possession approach.