Arteta has expressed interest in the club, which hopes to have the Serie A superstar as his No. 9 for the upcoming season. Arteta is hunting for the next Aubameyang in the free-scoring £120 million “animal”.

Arsenal is rumored to be pursuing a high-caliber striker who has previously secured a title, aiming to fill a crucial role in Mikel Arteta’s squad at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners are believed to be in the market for a new number nine this summer, a move seen by many as the final piece to complete Arteta’s team. Since early 2024, Arsenal has been linked with several top strikers, and currently, a World Cup-winning forward is reportedly on Arteta’s summer transfer shortlist.

Recent reports indicate that Lautaro Martinez, an Argentine international and key player for Inter Milan, is a primary target for Arsenal. Martinez played a significant role in Inter’s Serie A title win in April, and his potential transfer has been closely monitored by several Premier League clubs.

Martinez’s current contract with Inter Milan runs until the summer of 2026, and negotiations for an extension have been ongoing. However, no agreement has been reached yet, attracting interest from various teams. According to Italian journalist Fabio Santini, Inter Milan is offering Martinez a contract worth between €9 million and €9.5 million annually, but Martinez is demanding €12 million per year. Santini suggests that if no compromise is reached, Inter might be open to selling him.

Santini has also noted that both Martinez and his teammate Marcus Thuram are on Arsenal’s radar for the summer transfer window. However, Inter Milan is expected to demand a substantial €140 million for Martinez. In a conversation with TVPlay Official on Twitch, Santini mentioned, “Arsenal is reiterating their interest in Thuram this morning. In fact, they would like Lautaro as well. Inter isn’t entertaining the idea. However, if Arsenal offers €140 million, Inter would agree to sell Lautaro, especially if he insists on a salary of €12 million.”

Santini further explained that Inter prefers to sell players rather than offer high salaries, adhering to their “winning and self-managing financial model.” He believes that a compromise might be reached at €10 million, close to Inter’s offer. However, if Martinez insists on his €12 million demand, a transfer might become likely.

Lautaro Martinez has received high praise from Lionel Messi, one of the greatest footballers of all time. Messi, who has played with many top players, has publicly admired Martinez’s qualities. In 2020, after Martinez was linked with a move to Barcelona, Messi told Mundo Deportivo, “He’s amazing, he has amazing qualities. It was clear he was going to be a great player, and he’s really showing it now. He excels in one-on-one situations, is very strong, and scores a lot. He fights for every ball, perseveres, and finds solutions on his own. He is of very high quality and a complete player.”

This context underscores Arsenal’s interest in securing a proven striker like Lautaro Martinez, the complexities of his potential transfer, and the high regard in which he is held by his peers.