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According to reports, Arsenal Football Club is keeping its options open and has identified three potential targets to replace Reiss Nelson if the 23-year-old winger opts to leave the Emirates.
Fabrizio Romano, a well-known transfer insider, has reported that Nelson has turned down a contract extension, which has cast doubt over his future at the North London club.
Nelson has had limited game time under Arsenal’s current boss Mikel Arteta and has not started a single Premier League game this season. Nonetheless, his dramatic winning goal against Bournemouth in March 2022 has immortalized him in Arsenal’s history books, indicating that he could still have a part to play in the future.
However, if Nelson does decide to leave the Gunners, a number of potential suitors are reportedly lining up to sign him, including Brighton and AC Milan, according to the Daily Mail. While negotiations are ongoing, Arsenal has already identified three possible replacements for the youngster.
The Gunners are believed to be in the market for a right-sided winger to provide cover for Bukayo Saka ahead of their return to the Champions League next season. According to 90min, one of the names that have been linked with a move to the Premier League is Barcelona’s Raphinha.
Arsenal reportedly attempted to sign the Brazilian winger from Leeds United last season, but he chose to move to the Camp Nou instead. However, the latest reports suggest that Barca’s desire to reunite with Lionel Messi could see Raphinha axed from the team, putting Arsenal and Newcastle United on red alert.
Additionally, Arsenal is reportedly interested in Bayer Leverkusen’s Moussa Diaby, who has been a long-term target for Newcastle. The Frenchman left Paris Saint-Germain for Leverkusen in 2019, but the impending departure of Messi from PSG could see the French club try to re-sign him.
The Gunners have also been linked with Ferran Torres, who is currently at Manchester City. Reports from talkSPORT suggest that Barcelona is looking to increase their capital and are willing to let Torres leave. The Athletic had earlier reported Arsenal’s interest in the player back in January, but Arteta opted to sign Leandro Trossard from Brighton instead.
If Arsenal does manage to land Torres, he would become the third former Manchester City player to join Arteta’s squad, following in the footsteps of Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko.
The Gunners are clearly looking to strengthen their squad ahead of their return to the Champions League, and Arteta appears to be keen to bolster his attacking options. It remains to be seen which of the three targets Arsenal will eventually sign, but it is evident that the North London club is working hard behind the scenes to secure the services of a quality right-sided winger.
