Arsenal are reportedly in a fierce battle over a deal to sign AFC Bournemouth forward Rayan, as per The Sun.
The Gunners decided to reinforce the right flank by purchasing Noni Madueke from Chelsea last summer. However, he displayed inconsistent performances, although Mikel Arteta’s side won the Premier League title last campaign.
In 43 appearances across all competitions, he made 11 goal contributions. Despite his average performances last term, he secured his place in England’s World Cup squad, helping his country finish third.
Apart from Madueke, Arsenal currently have Bukayo Saka as an option to deploy on the right flank. However, he has had fitness problems in recent months.
As a result, it appears the North London club are considering purchasing a new right-sided forward this summer. The Sun report that Arsenal are interested in Rayan and are considering launching a formal proposal.
Arteta’s side are looking to act quickly to seal the deal ahead of other clubs. Apart from the Emirates club, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool are also keen on him.
The Reds have even discussed launching a £60m proposal. With the player’s existing deal set to run until 2031, Bournemouth aren’t in any rush to sell him this summer. However, the report state that the Cherries might be open to cashing-in on him for a fee of around £85m.
Rayan to Arsenal
After letting Antoine Semenyo join Manchester City, Bournemouth decided to replace the Ghanaian by purchasing Rayan from Vasco da Gama last winter.
The Brazilian enjoyed a promising start in the Premier League, making seven goal contributions in 15 appearances. He even helped his side qualify for next season’s Europa League.
After proving his worth in club football, the 19-year-old secured his place in Brazil’s World Cup squad.
He is a left-footed right-winger by trait and possesses the potential to become a top-class player in the future. Therefore, he would be a shrewd acquisition for Arsenal should they purchase him.
However, it is going to be interesting to see whether the Emirates club eventually make a concrete approach to secure his services in this summer transfer window.