Arsenal are expected to have a shiny new striker on the scene at the start of next season.
Some will say it is twelve months too late. On reflection, these claims are credible, although a full judgment on whether the failure to sign a goalscorer in time for this season should be postponed until May.
But the fact that the recruitment staff, working with manager Mikel Arteta, is gearing up to make a significant investment in a productive striker may indicate that there is a sense internally that there is a shortage in perhaps the most important area of the field.
The identity of who they choose remains an ongoing process and – as always with transfers – will depend on numerous factors: age, costs, injuries and experience.
But the most relevant factor of all is simple: goals.
Part of the reason Arsenal decided not to sign a striker in the summer was the way Kai Havertz finished the season.
The German scored nine goals in his last eighteen appearances for the club last season.
During negotiations with potential attackers ahead of the current season, it is clear that Arsenal have made no guarantees that they would play for Havertz.
Havertz's ten goals so far this season have certainly helped repay that trust.
But it is now accepted that they need more firepower.
Among the players eligible next summer is Newcastle striker Alexander Isak, who many believe is the leading candidate to fill the role as Arsenal's new attacking focal point.
The Swedish international ticks all the boxes for Arteta. Quick, sharp movements and a proven Premier League goalscorer.
However, there are internal concerns about Isak's injury history, especially given the intensity of Arteta's teams.
Benjamin Sesko also remains of concrete importance to the Gunners. Arsenal held talks about a transfer for the Red Bull Leipzig striker this summer.
Representatives of the striker, who scored 28 goals for club and country last season, have been invited to the Emirates on numerous occasions, so relations on that front are healthy.
But the prospect of playing second fiddle to Havertz worried Sesko in every respect, who signed a new contract with Leipzig.
Nevertheless, the 21-year-old is expected to become one of Europe's most popular players again in the summer of 2025, but will want to ensure regular first-team action.
Arsenal will continue to keep tabs on the exciting Slovenian international and will be in a strong position to strike, having already completed much of the groundwork if Sesko is identified as their main target.
The Gunners have been continuously linked with Sporting's prolific hitman Viktor Gyokeres, who has scored 72 goals since the start of last season.
However, Mail Sport has learned that despite the Swedish international's incredible goalscoring record, there are doubts over a move for Gyokeres.
The forward has an £85million clause in his contract, a big financial commitment, especially considering he will be 27 by the time next season starts.
Isak turns 26 in September, while Sesko turns 22 in May.
It is also said that there is some concern over whether he can replicate his goalscoring record in any of the major European leagues after building his reputation in Portugal.
There is currently no indication that Arsenal will consider revisiting their preliminary summer interest in Marcus Rashford.
Rashford was on a list of potential signings identified by the Gunners last summer.
The Manchester United player's career at Old Trafford appears to be coming to an end with the club ready to sell his academy diploma and Rashford himself admitting he is ready for a new challenge.
However, the predicted cost of signing Rashford meant Arsenal did not pursue their initial interest in the player last summer and despite recent developments, Mail Sport are not aware of any plans to move for the 27-year-old.
Spurs are keeping their promises to the Leeds transplant
Tottenham have kept their word to sign Archie Gray in the summer, who joined the London club despite interest from Manchester City amid assurances he would play regularly in the first team.
The youngster was one of the most coveted players of the previous period, following his excellent performances for Leeds in the Championship last season.
Spurs beat off competition from Manchester City and – to some extent – Liverpool in the race for his signature.
Gray held talks with City over a potential move, with a move to the Etihad to work under Pep Guardiola clearly holding the appeal for the youngster.
But sources close to the deal have revealed that Spurs' guarantee to Gray and his family that he would be an active member of Ange Postecoglou's squad was the deciding factor in the teenager's choice of London over Manchester.
To City's credit, he was honest with Gray and told him he would be more of a development player than someone who could go straight into the first team.
And Spurs have delivered on their promise; Gray has already played seventeen games for the first team this season.
Palace's surprise Copa Libertadores link
Crystal Palace sporting director Dougie Freedman has been heralded in Brazil as the unlikely architect of Botafogo's historic Copa Libertadores triumph.
The Brazilian club won their first Copa – the South American equivalent of the Champions League – earlier this month, sparking frenzied celebrations.
But Mail Sport can reveal Botafogo owner John Textor is privately defending Freedman's impact on the club's recruitment structures, a development the American businessman believes has been key to their euphoric success.
Textor, which also owns 45 percent of Palace, has used Freedman's expertise to improve the club's internal scouting networks with a view to identifying talent.
Freedman is believed to be in regular dialogue with his colleagues at Botafogo, after representatives from the club visited Palace in 2022 on a fact-finding mission.
And sources close to Textor have been quick to point out Freedman's influence on their recent success, which includes their first league title since 1995 earlier this year.
The Dewsbury-Hall sliding door transfer
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's role at Chelsea will not generate much sympathy from Brighton.
Mail Sport learned this week that the 26-year-old was in the process of undergoing an MRI scan ahead of his move from Leicester to the Amex when he was informed of the Stamford Bridge club's offer.
Dewsbury-Hall turned his back on Brighton to join Chelsea, where he would link up with his Leicester boss Enzo Maresca.
But the midfielder has not made a single Premier League start so far, with his playing time largely limited to games in the Europa Conference League and Carabao Cup.
Understandably, Brighton's chiefs were less than impressed as they thought they had struck a deal with Dewsbury-Hall.
There is talk of Dewsbury-Hall being allowed to leave Chelsea for regular game time in January, with a return to Leicester mooted.
European giants circle around Greek star
Olympiacos wonderkid Charalampos Kostoulas will cost at least £20m amid reports linking the youngster with the Premier League.
Manchester United this week became the latest club to take an interest in the 17-year-old, who is widely regarded as one of the most exciting players in European football.
Juventus and Bayern Munich are among the clubs that will also be credited with interest.
And it is understood that Olympiacos, owned by Nottingham Forest supremo Evangelos Marinakis, will demand a historic fee for their teenage sensation.
The Greek side will claim that any deal for Kostoulas' departure would break the existing transfer record for an outgoing player, which currently stands at just under £17 million when Wolves signed Daniel Podence in 2019.
Kostoulas has scored three goals in his seven league starts for Olympiacos.
Like father, like sons
Manchester City academy duo Jaden and Reigan Heskey – sons of former England star Emile – are attracting interest from the Premier League and Europe.
The Heskey brothers have received critical acclaim for their performances with City's youth sides and are regarded as two of the best emerging talents in the club's youth ranks.
Attacking midfielder Jaden, 18, has already caught the eye of Pep Guardiola after being named in the pre-season squad that toured the US this summer
Winger Reigan, 16, scored in an EFL trophy match against Grimsby Town in October and his goalscoring numbers from a wide position stand out.
England Under-17 international Reigan has scored 15 goals and provided seven assists in 18 appearances in all competitions for City's youth teams this season.
The departure of Arsenal's academy
Arsenal striker Reiss Nelson is expected to leave the club permanently at the end of the season.
The winger, who arrived through the club's famous Hale End academy, is currently on loan at Fulham, where he has scored twice in 13 games so far.
Nelson's contract at Arsenal expires in 2027, but there is a growing feeling that the talented striker will leave the club he joined as an eight-year-old next summer.
It is clear that Nelson has little chance of regular football under Mikel Arteta and there is an acceptance that it is best for all parties that the 25-year-old Nelson moves on.
Causing fatigue in the top flight?
Premier League bosses have become disillusioned with the campaigns they have to support on matchdays.
Competitive games are regularly used as a platform for good causes, for example the No Room For Racism campaign and Rainbow Laces.
But Mail Sport understands that some top bosses feel such campaigns have become so frequent that they have lost their impact.
“Managers are asked to wear a different badge every week, half the time we just put it on and don't even know what it's for,” said a source.
Southgate's return to Qatar
Gareth Southgate returned to Qatar this week after attending the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final in Doha on Thursday evening.
Mail Sport can reveal that the former England manager, who led the national team to the World Cup quarter-final in the Arab state in 2022, was back in the Middle East when he watched Real Madrid beat Pachuca to lift the trophy to tow.
Southgate enjoyed the dignity of the Lusail Stadium – site of the previous World Cup final when Argentina defeated France – but had to skip the post-match drinks to travel back to England.
After leaving the England job earlier this year after eight years in charge, Southgate indicated he could consider a new career outside of football as he plots his return to work.
Nevertheless, Southgate, dressed in a smart black suit and polka-dot tie, has been mingling in football circles again this week as he considers his next steps.
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