Mikel Arteta has made AS Roma forward Tammy Abraham one of his top targets again this summer, according to reports.
THE LOWDOWN: SUPER SEASON
Abraham has enjoyed a super first season at Roma, scoring 17 goals in 37 Serie A appearances under former Chelsea and Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho.
The Blues included a £68m buy-back clause in Roma’s £34m deal for the England international before they snapped up Romelu Lukaku in what was a club-record £97.5m from Inter Milan.
Arsenal tried to sign Abraham last year, with the striker even admitting recently that a deal was on the table to join the Gunners.
Now it seems the north London outfit will try again for the player this summer.
THE LATEST: TOP OF THE LIST
According to The Sun, Abraham has joined Manchester City ace Gabriel Jesus at the top of the list of strikers the Gunners want to sign this summer.
Reports have claimed the Camberwell-born star could cost as much as £67m now.
A report from The Mirror claim that the former Chelsea man has left the door open for a potential return to Premier League and Arsenal, after what has been a productive year-long spell at Roma.
Following his final game of the Serie A season, Abraham was asked as to whether he will still be playing his football at Roma next season.
He told DAZN via Football Italia: “Like I’ve always said, I fell in love with this club from the first day and I will always help the team as much as possible with my goals and assists.
“I love this club. They’ve given me the opportunity to show myself, my heart is here. We’ll see what the future holds, but my heart is here.”
THE VERDICT: STATEMENT SIGNING
Despite a season of stark progress, Arsenal boss Arteta seems eager to carry out his gradual restructuring of the first team. As such, the likes of £182k-per-week Alexandre Lacazette, amidst his rapidly expiring contract, looks as though he will depart the club after what has been five years at the Emirates Stadium.
This season has seen the Frenchman labelled as a “liability” by FOX journalist James Dodd in what has been his least prolific in terms of attacking returns, scoring four goals and amassing seven assists.
Arteta is seemingly keen to replace the former Lyon star with a scorer in the ilk of Abraham, who has enjoyed an emphatic first season abroad with the Italian giants and has consequently been dubbed “mercurial” by BT Sport.
The 24-year-old England starlet has chipped in with 27 goals and five assists for Mourinho’s side, with nine goals in 12 Europa Conference League appearances integral in their bid for European glory.
Such goalscoring feats is certainly what Arteta is looking to acquire this summer, and adding the former Chelsea man to their squad will indeed be a statement of intent from the Gunners.
AND in other Arsenal news, £18m-rated ace set for Arsenal return after Serie A approach knocked back…