Arsenal are planning to make a U-turn and work on a deal to sign Leroy Sane from Bayern Munich after making Martin Zubimendi their first summer signing, it has been claimed.
Zubimendi was due to travel to London on Tuesday to complete a medical and finalise a move to the Gunners. The Spaniard is set to join in a £51million move from Real Sociedad
Once the signing of Zubimendi is completed, Mikel Arteta will turn his attentions to other additions, with a wide forward one of the positions they want to strengthen.
Nico Williams is reportedly the dream target in that area, but his steep wage demands have forced Arsenal to look elsewhere and they are showing a ‘strong interest’ in Bayern Munich star Sane, according to The Times.
The Gunners have been linked with a move for Sane over the last 12 months and Arteta is an admirer having worked with him during his time at Manchester City.
Sane is available on a free transfer with his Bayern contract set to expire at the end of June. Tottenham have also been credited with an interest in the German international.
His camp have began touting around the 29-year-old to potential suitors, with Arsenal among those interested, despite Sky Germany reporting that the Gunners had withdrawn from the race.
Sane has scored 61 goals in 220 appearances for Bayern Munich since a £54m move from Manchester City in 2020. During his time at City, Sane won the Premier League twice, the FA Cup and three Carabao Cup trophies.
Elsewhere, Arsenal want to sign a No.9 and have reportedly made Viktor Gyokeres a top summer target. Gunners sporting director Andrea Berta has identified the Swede after scoring 54 goals in 52 matches this season.
Arteta is said to be a huge fan of Gyokeres and a transfer could be completed for as little as £60m, despite the fact he has a £85m release clause.
However, Sporting vice-president Francisco Salgado Zenha provided an update on Gyokeres’ future earlier this week and revealed the club haven’t received any offers.
He said: “He has three more years on his contract. At the moment there are no offers, he has three more years on his contract. “I think the answer has been given. [Sporting’s transfer plans] won’t be any different from last year. We want to keep the best players and retain talent.
“We want to continue to be champions, have competitive teams and fight on all fronts. I have been in this role for seven years. In the years when Sporting were champions, we even made fewer sales than in other years… the fact that we are champions gives us a greater ability to retain players and talent.
“Coincidence or not, we have not had to sell any players in those times. Not that we have not received offers, but the market is not under our control, we are always dependent.”
