Premier League side Arsenal want to sign a striker during the summer and according to the Daily Express, the Gunners are eyeing Benfica’s Darwin Nunez, a player who is on the radar of West Ham as well as Newcastle United.
Daily Express’ Ryan Taylor is claiming that Arsenal have already made contact with the 22-year-old’s agent as they look to bring in a replacement for Aubameyang.
Aubameyang has left in January and even Alexandre Lacazette looks all set to move out at the end of the season which is why signing a top-class striker is of the utmost importance for Mikel Arteta.
Who is Darwin Nunez?
Darwin Nunez joined Benfica from UD Almeria in the summer of 2020 and in these past two years, the 22-year-old has netted 40 goals in just 77 games.
Darwin Nunez's 26th goal of the season fired Benfica to the Champions League quarter-finals 🤩 pic.twitter.com/YNlK3QgLIr
— GOAL (@goal) March 16, 2022
During the 2021/22 season, Nunez has scored 20 goals and provided two assists in 22 league matches and currently, he is one of the most talked-about forwards in European football.
He is primarily a centre-forward but Nunez can also play on the left wing which is an added advantage should Arsenal get their hands on him.
This season, he has played 12 times down the middle and four times on the left flank, across all competitions.
Should Arsenal challenge West Ham & Newcastle United for Darwin Nunez?
Not only Lacazette but Eddie Nketiah is also set to leave in the summer so Arteta has to go after a new striker. But Darwin Nunez is not the only player who is on Arsenal’s radar.
The Gunners are also keeping tabs on players like Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Victor Osimhen but unlike Nunez, both these players are not going to come cheap.
West Ham United and Newcastle United are also keeping tabs on Nunez and since he is valued at only 36 million pounds it makes perfect sense for Arsenal to challenge their Premier League rivals. Even though Benfica have placed a £67 million price tag on the striker but with so many sides interested in him, the Portuguese side won’t take the risk to reject a sale.
If Arsenal can secure a Champions League spot then they will obviously have the upper hand at signing the Benfica man but we don’t think West Ham or Newcastle will let go without a fight. Also, if the Gunners think they have a better chance at signing one of their other targets then they won’t take time to ditch their interest in the 22-year-old.