Arsenal have four strikers and five midfielders on their shortlist of targets, according to The Athletic’s Gunners correspondent James McNicholas.

Manager Mikel Arteta is keen on bringing in one player for each position before the transfer window closes next week but the club have been forced into contemplating a number of different options due to the difficulties in getting deals over the line this month.

Up front, Fiorentina’s Dusan Vlahovic was the priority but the Serbian is said to favour a move to Juventus. The backup option was thought to be Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin and, while the player is interested in moving to the Gunners, the Toffees are extremely reluctant to sell him.

An offer for Real Sociedad’s Alexander Isak has been looked into but his sizeable release clause means they may pursue a short-term loan instead, such as Real Madrid’s Luka Jovic.

In midfield, a bid to sign Juventus’s Arthur now seems unlikely, so Arsenal may well pursue Wolves’ Ruben Neves, Lyon’s Bruno Guimaraes, RB Leipzig’s Tyler Adams or even Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz as possible alternatives.