Arsenal 'to be forced' to sell one of their main players in order to secure sensational summer signing

Arsenal could need to complete a major sale in order to secure their top summer target, a new report has claimed.

The Gunners are currently operating without a striker after the club's hierarchy and manager Mikel Arteta agreed not to sign attacking reinforcements in January.

The thinking behind that decision, The Athletic claimed, was to wait until the summer when higher priority targets would become available.

But that strategy has backfired spectacularly so far, with Arsenal's chances of lifting a Premier League title for the first time since 2004 dwindling by the week.

They are now 13 points behind leaders Liverpool with just 12 games to play, though do have a game in hand on their nearest rivals.

The Gunners can at least look forward to pre-season, when Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli will all be fully fit, with the opportunity to then add further to their attacking ranks in the transfer market.

Kai Havertz's injury has left Arsenal without a fit centre forward (Image: Getty)

But according to the Daily Mirror, Arsenal may need to sell one of those three players in order to fund a summer rebuild in that area of the pitch.

It is claimed that either Martinelli or Leandro Trossard could be on the chopping block this summer, amid interest from Saudi Arabia.

The funds gained from that sale, the report adds, would put Arsenal in a better position to pursue a move for Newcastle's Alexander Isak, who has been the best striker in the Premier League this season.

Spanish outlet Sport claimed last week that Newcastle would consider selling the Swedish striker for around €100 million (£83m) if they fail to qualify for next season's Champions League, but even that fee would appear to be on the low side in today's market.

Newcastle's Alexander Isak is believed to be a summer transfer target for Arsenal (Image: Getty)

An asking price of €150 million has been quoted elsewhere which could be a more realistic valuation of the 25-year-old, who has scored 21 goals in all competitions this season.

Should Arsenal pay that fee, it would smash their club transfer record, which currently stands at the £100 million they spent to sign midfielder Declan Rice from West Ham in the summer of 2023.