Transfers: Arsenal Targets Kvaratskhelia and Gordon to Bolster Attack
The Gunners are drawing up a shortlist of wingers for the summer: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is named the priority target, with Anthony Gordon also on the list.
Main Event
London club Arsenal has identified its priority transfer targets for the summer 2026 window. Sporting director Andrea Berta and head coach Mikel Arteta are focused on strengthening the left flank of the attack, having drawn up a shortlist of two primary candidates.
The Gunners' main, albeit difficult-to-achieve, target is Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia of Paris Saint-Germain. Concurrently, the club is showing concrete interest in Newcastle United star Anthony Gordon, whose potential transfer is valued at £80 million.
Details and Statistics
The need for a squad overhaul in the attacking line is driven by the dismal statistics of Arsenal's current wingers. Gabriel Martinelli has scored only one goal in the current Premier League season, and his goal drought in domestic competitions has stretched to 232 days. His replacement, Leandro Trossard, scored his first goal in 25 matches across all competitions only on May 10, when his deflected shot secured a 1-0 victory over West Ham.
Kvaratskhelia himself moved to PSG from Napoli in January 2025 for €70 million, signing a contract until 2029. In the current season, the 23-year-old Georgian has registered 28 goal involvements, and Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard called him "the best winger in the world right now" after the Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich.
However, the Parisian club has no intention of parting with the player. According to sources, PSG values Kvaratskhelia at €180-185 million, and only an offer of that magnitude could bring the French to the negotiating table. Insider Fabrizio Romano also confirms that the player himself is happy in Paris and wants to stay at the club.
The situation with Anthony Gordon looks more realistic. The 25-year-old Englishman is having an impressive season, scoring 17 goals in all competitions. Newcastle may agree to a sale if an offer of £80 million is received. Gordon's contract, signed after the collapse of a move to Liverpool in summer 2024, runs until summer 2028 and, according to some reports, does not include a fixed release clause. However, other sources claim that a £100 million clause does exist.
Context and Significance
Arsenal's potential transfer activity is driven not only by sporting but also by financial factors. The club has already earned £122 million from a successful Champions League campaign, where Arteta's team reached the tournament final. An additional £10 million will be secured if they win the decisive match against PSG on May 30 in Budapest.
Arsenal is one step away from its first Premier League title in 22 years, but the attacking statistics are a legitimate cause for concern. Martin Ødegaard has not scored in the Premier League for over 135 days, a dismal record for the team's primary playmaker.
Arteta himself, commenting indirectly on the situation, makes it clear that building a dominant dynasty at the Emirates is impossible without quality attacking reinforcements. Winning by narrow margins and relying on defensive solidity cannot be a long-term strategy for a club with championship ambitions.
For Newcastle, keeping Gordon is a matter of principle. The club aims to demonstrate that it is no longer a seller forced to part with its stars. A contract until 2028 without a clear release clause gives the Magpies leverage in negotiations.
What's Next / Next Match Preview
Arsenal's next official match is the Champions League final against PSG, which will take place on May 30, 2026, in Budapest. The irony of fate is that the Gunners' main transfer target, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, will take the field for the opposing team.
This game will serve as a showcase for the Georgian winger. Arteta and Berta will have the opportunity to evaluate the player in a competitive environment, the very player for whom PSG demands a record fee for British football.
The current transfer record among British clubs belongs to Liverpool, which paid £125 million for Alexander Isak last summer. The amount needed to acquire Kvaratskhelia could exceed that milestone by more than £30 million.
Arsenal is expected to intensify contacts on both fronts immediately after the end of the club season. In case of failure in negotiations for the priority targets, alternative options remain on the shortlist: Rafael Leão from Milan (£43-52 million) and Julián Álvarez from Atlético Madrid, whose transfer is valued in the range of £102-130 million.
— Editorial Team
