Arsenal are looking to add more firepower to their forward ranks this summer, with Andrea Berta looking at potential striker and winger options for the coming weeks.
Under Mikel Arteta this season, the Gunners have lacked a clinical edge to some of their attacking play, costing them dearly in the race for the Premier League title.
While Arsenal have missed out again, there is some hope that a big summer transfer window could change it all.
Andrea Berta is tasked with finding the right players to fit exactly what is needed at the Emirates Stadium, with plenty of links appearing yet again.
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Arsenal add Kaoru Mitoma to transfer shortlist for summer switch
The wide areas are a particular place of focus for Berta and the recruitment team, with several stars heavily linked.
Arsenal’s transfer interest in Rodrygo seems to be most advanced, though it has been described as a “difficult” deal to get done.
With that in mind, the hierarchy already appears to be thinking about possible alternatives if required this summer.
According to Florian Plettenberg, Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma has been added to Arsenal’s shortlist for the upcoming transfer window.
Berta is claimed to be looking at several different profiles, while the move for Rodrygo is claimed to be “stalling” due to wage demands.
Bayern Munich are also claimed to be in the race for the Premier League star, who has impressed while at Brighton.
Previous reports from TeamTalk claim that it will take at least £80 million to persuade Brighton to sell this summer.
Kaoru Mitoma likened to Lionel Messi with Brighton goal earlier this season
Mitoma’s rise to the top at Brighton has been impressive, going from a developing loanee to a genuine first-team star.
His ability to dribble with the ball is well-documented, but perhaps his quality in front of goal was most telling during a game against Chelsea back in February.
Following a long kick by goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, Mitoma brought down the ball with one touch, drove towards goal and finished with a beautiful effort.
Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports: “It’s Messi-like,” when asked to describe the touch and the goal.
“You don’t see regularly special things like this, but he works really hard,” Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler said on the goal.
“He’s fully committed to the club. He tries to improve himself every day. He is very professional, and then on top of that, he is able to do special things like this.
“If I look back on my career, I don’t know if I ever saw something like this as a coach from my own player, because it was very special.”
Arsenal will be hopeful of tapping into that special talent, if they manage to secure a deal for Mitoma.
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