BREAKING NEWS LIVE : Arsenal handed opportunity to replace Gabriel Martinelli with £40m winger before transfer deadline

Arsenal have been handed an opportunity to sign a £40 million winger who could be an instant upgrade on Gabriel Martinelli

Arsenal hopes of securing a new left winger before the close of the summer transfer window appear slim after the club handed a new contract to Belgian forward Leandro Trossard.

The Gunners had been linked with high-profile names including Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze, Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, AC Milan’s Rafael Leao and Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman. But with Trossard set to stay and Gabriel Martinelli also expected to remain at the Emirates, Arsenal’s incoming business looks close to being done.

Reports earlier in the summer suggested Trossard could be sold to balance the books after Arsenal spent around £200 million on reinforcements, bringing in Viktor Gyokeres and Noni Madueke. However, his contract extension points to continuity rather than further departures.

Despite this, Arsenal continue to be linked with Lookman, who has become one of the most talked-about names in Europe this window. The Nigerian international, crowned African Footballer of the Year in 2024, has been pushing for an exit from Atalanta after a failed transfer to Inter Milan. He recently went on strike, deleted the club from his social media, and filed a transfer request following Atalanta’s rejection of a €45 million bid.

Ademola Lookman

Atalanta CEO Luca Percassi has since clarified that any “gentleman’s agreement” over Lookman’s departure only applied to foreign clubs, ruling out a sale to Serie A rivals. According to reports from football-italia.net, his representatives have since contacted several Premier League teams including Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Aston Villa in an attempt to secure a move before the September 1 deadline.

Lookman is coming off a remarkable 2023/24 season in which he scored 20 goals and added seven assists in 40 appearances. His hat-trick in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen elevated his profile, while a 14th-place finish in the Ballon d’Or vote further underlined his credentials.

For Arsenal, who have admired Lookman for years, the player represents an opportunity to add another proven attacker. However, with Trossard and Martinelli both staying put, Mikel Arteta may be reluctant to pursue another winger unless a significant departure occurs.

Atalanta are demanding around €60 million for the 27-year-old, who has returned to training but remains sidelined from first-team selection. With just under two weeks left in the transfer window, Lookman’s future remains uncertain as both Arsenal and several Premier League rivals weigh up late moves.