Arsenal news: Mikel Arteta 'monitors' £58m former target as exciting PSG move eyed

Arsenal return to Premier League action this weekend desperate to arrest their slide in form. The Gunners host Nottingham Forest on Saturday on the back of four top-flight games without a win, leaving them nine points off leaders Liverpool.

The results have added to a turbulent period for the club after sporting director Edu confirmed he would be leaving after five years at the helm. Therefore, Mikel Arteta would have welcomed the current international break and the the opportunity for his squad to regroup. 

The Spaniard is also set to welcome key players back from injury, with Martin Odegaard permitted to stay in London this past fortnight to focus on his ongoing recovery. And speculation is mounting if the club will go back into the transfer market in January, having been linked to a host of big-name strikers.

Express Sport brings you all the latest news from the north London club…

Arteta tracking Serie A star

As the perception grows that Arsenal lack the clinical finisher needed to land a long-awaited league title, Arteta is reportedly eying a move for Juventus forward Dusan Vlahovic. The 24-year-old has scored 50 goals in 117 games for the club, with his contract set to expire in 2026.

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Arteta is ‘monitoring’ the Serbian’s situation. He’s said to be valid at around £58million by Juventus, and is potentially a cheaper alternative than previous target Victor Osimhen.

There has currently been little progress with the player’s proposed contract talks with the Serie A club. And Juve bosses will have to consider a sale if he doesn’t extend his deal, or risk losing him for nothing at the end of next season.

Arsenal target PSG chief

Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Luís Campos is reportedly being lined-up to replace Edu. The Brazilian is currently serving his notice period at the Emirates after agreeing a deal to work with Evangelos Marinakis and his band of clubs.

According to Sky Sports, Campos has now been shortlisted by the Premier League club. His own contract in Paris expires at the end of the 2024/25 campaign,  with the two parties yet to reach an agreement over a renewal.

The Portuguese chief has been credited for overseeing a new era at PSG, moving away from the lavish spending that has signified their past decade. Instead, Campos has prioritised developing academy products and targeting young players in the transfer market.

Club ‘exploring’ an Emirates expansion

Arsenal could be set to increase the Emirates’ capacity to 80,000. According to the Sun, Arsenal bosses are currently ‘exploring’ the possibility of adding an extra 20,000 seats to the venue.

It would make the arena the largest in the Premier League. Currently, Old Trafford, London Stadium, and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium all boast a bigger capacity than the Emirates.