Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing Liverpool striker Diogo Jota in the summer transfer window. 

The Gunners failed to sign a striker during the January transfer window, as they saw a bid rejected for Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins.

They have also been linked with RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, who they are expected to make a move for in the summer. The 21-year-old has also generated interest from Chelsea.

However, in a surprise report, Arsenal are interested in Liverpool’s Jota, who has struggled with injury problems this season under Arne Slot.

According to Football Insider, Arsenal are plotting a summer transfer move for the Portuguese attacker, as they look to replace Gabriel Jesus, who has been out with an ACL injury for much of this season.

Mikel Arteta wants to add a striker in summer, and Jota could be their target. He has made 21 appearances in all competitions for Liverpool this season, scoring eight goals and two assists, however, he hasn’t been consistently fit.

However, the report does say that a deal for Jota might be hard for Arsenal to complete seeing as their main title rivals won’t want to sell one of their players to the Gunners, who will hope to challenge for the league next year too.

His market value is estimated at around £42m, and his contract at Anfield isn’t due to expire until June 2027, meaning that Liverpool could put a hefty price tag on the 28-year-old. He joined from Premier League rivals Wolves in 2020 for a fee of £37m – Jota has since scored 64 goals for the Reds.

How would Jota fit into the Arsenal team?

Kai Havertz has been playing the striker role for Arsenal this season, but he is not a natural number nine. Diogo Jota would likely replace Havertz in Arsenal’s starting XI, however he is also not a target-man type striker.

Jota can play either as a centre-forward or a winger, which is more similar to Havertz, who can also play in midfield. He wouldn’t solve Arsenal’s striker issue in that he is not the type of striker that the Gunners need.

Sesko, or Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres would both fit the mould a lot better seeing as they are pure target-men, and number nines – something that Arsenal haven’t had over the past few seasons.