Arsenal should break the internet and hijack £57m West Ham transfer plans with deal for proven striker

Arsenal are still on the hunt for a new striker as they aim to replace Gabriel Jesus, who suffered an ACL injury during the Gunners’ FA Cup defeat to Manchester United.

The Gunners currently sit second in the Premier League table, six points away from Liverpool, who also have a game in hand. They may need to strengthen in the January transfer window if they are to keep pace with Arne Slot’s side, and have a shot at the league title.

Mikel Arteta currently has just one striker at his disposal in the form of Kai Havertz, who scored in their last game against Aston Villa. The German has eight goals in 19 Premier League games this season, but the Gunners could do with more firepower up top.

Arsenal could make transfer swoop for West Ham target

West Ham recently saw a £57m bid rejected by Aston Villa for striker Jhon Duran, who has impressed under Unai Emery this season. The Hammers previously targeted Duran in the summer, but failed to get a deal across the line, so they are reportedly in for him again.

The Columbian striker has scored 12 goals in 27 games for Villa in all competitions this season, an impressive feat considering he is struggling to get regular minutes due to Villa also having England international Ollie Watkins.

Arsenal previously held a reported interest in the 21-year-old earlier in the season, alongside West Ham and Chelsea. Seeing as they desperately need a striker, and can afford a much higher offer than West Ham’s £57m effort, they should swoop in and try to land the Villa star.

It would be a stunning deal and provide Arteta with a proven Premier League goal scorer, who at the age of just 21, could develop into one of the best strikers in the world for the Gunners. Furthermore, Duran would get the promise of more regular game time, due to the lack of competition at the striker position for Arsenal.

He would be the only pure number nine at the Emirates, and would give them a striker who is both pacey and strong, which could be a match made in heaven considering he will be getting service from the likes of Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka (when he returns from injury).

How much would Arsenal have to pay to sign Jhon Duran?

There is no doubt that Aston Villa values Duran very highly, due to both his impressive season this year, and sky-high potential because of his young age. It could take a hefty bid from the Gunners to land the 21-year-old.

According to a report by Sky Sports, West Ham’s bid of £57m wasn’t close to meeting Villa’s valuation of Duran. It suggests that a bid of £70m plus would be more likely to tempt the Midlands-based side to sell the Columbian. It will cost Arsenal around that much to sign Benjamin Sesko while Victor Osimhen’s release clause is well over £100m.

Furthermore, if Unai Emery continues to play Watkins ahead of Duran, who spends a lot of his time starting on the bench, Duran may decide that he wants to move, especially with the draw of going to a Premier League and Champions League title contender in the form of Arsenal.