Arsenal want £52m striker who has scored six Premier League goals in 38 appearances – it would be a huge transfer mistake

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Arsenal will be in the market for a new striker during the summer transfer window.

Both Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus are currently recovering from serious injury issues, although the Gunners most likely would’ve been on the hunt for a new number nine regardless.

Viktor Gyokeres has emerged as the most likely signing, while the likes of Alexander Isak, Benjamin Sesko and Hugo Ekitike have also been linked with a switch to N5.

However, Andrea Berta and Mikel Arteta are looking to keep their options open, with a new name emerging as a potential target in recent days.

• READ MORE: Premier League rivals have made contact with Arsenal’s top transfer target, Mikel Arteta must move quickly

Arsenal interested in signing Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku

Arsenal arguably need an out-and-out prolific goalscorer – someone who’s primary attribute is finding the back of the net on a consistent basis.

Isak and Gyokeres fit this profile, while the latest to be linked with a move to the Emirates certainly doesn’t.

According to French journalist Fabrice Hawkins, Arsenal are interested in signing Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku, although the Gunners face competition from Bayern Munich for his signature.

Nkunku has scored just six goals in 38 Premier League appearances since joining Chelsea, and has largely been on the periphery of Enzo Maresca’s squad this season.

The Frenchman was an unused substitute for the Blues in their game against Everton on Saturday afternoon, and is reportedly growing increasingly frustrated at his bit-part role at Stamford Bridge.

Arsenal could look to pounce on this frustration and land the player for a reduced fee this summer.

Arsenal should not sign Christopher Nkunku

Nkunku was linked with Arsenal back when he was thriving at RB Leipzig, and he is certainly a player that possesses great talent.

Netting 35 goals in all competitions for the German club in 2021/22, Nkunku has enjoyed a relatively similar career path to Havertz.

Signing for Chelsea after impressing as a young player in the Bundesliga, both players struggled in West London whilst not quite knowing whether they were a striker or not, and thus, perhaps Arteta sees the 27-year-old in a similar light to the German.

However, even if Nkunku was to end up at Arsenal and enjoy something of a redemption arc, it’s still not the right move for the Gunners to make.

Another false nine who can also play in midfield or out wide isn’t the type of profile the North Londoners are crying out for, with a prolific central striker what is required to take Arteta’s team from title challengers to title winners.

Chelsea signed Nkunku for £52 million in 2023, and it’s likely that they’d want to recoup the majority of that if they were to sanction his departure, particularly to a rival club.

Splashing in excess of £40 million for another quasi number ten striker, who’ll turn 28 in November, doesn’t make sense, particularly given the player in question may not be good enough for the Premier League.