Arsenal are looking to sign a high-quality striker during the summer transfer window.
Arsenal reportedly dispatched scouts to observe Porto’s Evanilson play against Estoril over the weekend. The attacker, however, failed to justify the trip made by the Gunners’ executives, as his team lost 1-0 in a dramatic contest.
Arsenal are set to splurge the cash at the conclusion of the season, with Mikel Arteta making it clear that he wants to strengthen his squad at both ends of the game. Ajax’s Jorrel Hato and Sporting’s Ousmane Diomande are among the defensive options being considered.
Significant amounts are anticipated to be spent on a marquee striker, with Brentford’s Ivan Toney and Napoli talisman Victor Osimhen both linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium at the end of the season.
Arsenal has not settled on a primary target, and club officials will look into all options. As a result, the north London club is keeping an eye on the growth of Porto prospect Evanilson.
According to HITC, Arsenal had personnel present at the Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota to witness the Brazilian play for Porto against Estoril. The 24-year-old, however, was unable to leave his mark on the game, as Cassiano scored the crucial goal for the home team.
Evanilson has 22 goals in 35 appearances in all competitions this season, but his performance against Estoril did not reflect well on him as Porto lost their calm early in the match, resulting in 12 yellow cards and four red cards.
If a move for Evanilson is pursued, the Gunners will hope to use their contacts in Portugal to expedite the process. Arsenal has been scouting the Liga Portugal on a regular basis in recent seasons, with Sporting duo Diomande and Viktor Gyokeres among their top targets in the division.
Arsenal are not alone in their appreciation for the prolific forward; Newcastle were also present at Porto’s most recent match. With Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson drawing lots of attention ahead of the summer transfer window, the Magpies are looking for prospective successors.
Evanilson’s performances are sure to have been noted across Europe as well, with the striker market expected to be quite active this summer. Several big clubs are likely to make significant alterations to their front lines ahead of next season.
