Arsenal have at least three strikers on their transfer shortlist for 2024, but they may choose to invest elsewhere in January.

Brentford's Ivan Toney reacts as he attends the English League Cup third-round football match between Brentford and Arsenal at the Brentford Community Stadium in London on September 27, 2023. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Brentford’s Ivan Toney reacts as he attends the English League Cup third-round football match between Brentford and Arsenal at the Brentford Community Stadium in London on September 27, 2023. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

The Daily Mail’s Sami Mokbel reports that Arsenal are interested in at least three strikers ahead of the 2024 January transfer window.

The Gunners hold an interest in Brentford’s Ivan Toney, but matching the player’s reported £80m valuation is believed to be beyond Arsenal at this stage.

The club would need to make a significant sale first, amid the rumours surrounding Eddie Nketiah.

As well as Toney, Arsenal are also coveting Victor Osimhen of Napoli, and Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, according to the same report.

Aston Villa's English striker #11 Ollie Watkins celebrates after scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge in London on September 24, 2023. (Photo by IAN KINGTON/AFP via Getty Images)
Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins celebrates after scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge in London on September 24, 2023. (Photo by IAN KINGTON/AFP via Getty Images)

Dominic Solanke has also been linked with Arsenal in the last few days, but he isn’t mentioned in the Mail’s report.

Mokbel adds that there is a view at Arsenal that any available January funds would be better spent on midfield and the defence.

Claims on social media suggest Arsenal are feeling confident about the prospect of signing Osimhen in the summer, but a January move doesn’t seem quite as likely right now.

NAPLES, ITALY: Victor Osimhen of SSC Napoli during the UEFA Champions League match between SCC Napoli and SC Braga at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on December 12, 2023. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
NAPLES, ITALY: Victor Osimhen of SSC Napoli during the UEFA Champions League match between SCC Napoli and SC Braga at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on December 12, 2023. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

An exit for Nketiah could make a big difference, given the academy product’s sale would be booked as pure profit for FFP purposes. It would also ramp up the demand for Arsenal to make a signing.

At this stage, there are no concrete links with a move for Nketiah, so you’d expect the striker issue to be addressed in the summer.