Ian Wright fears Arsenal could repeat Man Utd’s £72m transfer mistake

Ian Wright says Arsenal ‘can’t afford to waste £90million’ on a striker in case they flop like Manchester United’s Rasmus Hojlund or Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez.

It has long been known that Arsenal need to sign a new centre-forward this summer, even more so after they lost the Premier League title race and were knocked out of the Champions League.

Following another trophyless season, Mikel Arteta is expected to recruit at least one forward, with the likes of Ollie Watkins, Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres on his shortlist.

None of these options will come cheap however, but Wright is fearful the Gunners could, in desperation, sign an unproven player and fall into the same trap that rival clubs did.

‘You look at Rasmus Hojlund, and he had nine goals for Atalanta, the money they paid for him [£72m], you’re taking a chance on potential,’ the legendary Arsenal striker told Premier League Productions.

‘Look at Darwin Nunez, £85m. I’m not sure Arsenal can afford to go in and get it wrong like that. Yes, we desperately need a striker but we need a kind of striker whose going to come in and will score because we can’t do a Hojlund or a Nunez.

‘I think there will be money for him [Arteta] in the summer but we can’t afford to buy a striker that doesn’t work because let’s face it with them two, they’ve not worked up until this point.

‘Arsenal again are fishing in a place where everybody is so you’re going to have to pay a premium but you’re going to have to make sure you get somebody whose going to deliver for you.’

Since his move, Hojlund has scored just four Premier League goals this season for the Red Devils, while Nunez is expected to leave Anfield having barely started a game under Arne Slot.

Asked if fear of repeating these transfer flops was the reason why Arsenal hadn’t signed a new striker yet, Wright replied: ‘Maybe. We can’t afford to [waste] £80-90million.

‘That’s why Alexander Isak was on the cards for us, going for someone we know will do it here. There’s talk about Gyokeres from Sporting. Maybe he can be the one, he’s played in England before, not at Premier League level.’

Following Arsenal’s draw at champions Liverpool on Sunday, Gary Neville said the Gunners needed to make three signings this summer to win the Premier League next season.

Martin Zubimendi appears to be on his way from Real Sociedad, but Wright believes Arteta has to buy ‘four or five quality players’.

‘It’s just vitally important that whoever we get is ready to go and capable of dealing with the pressure because as soon as we sign a striker, people are going to say, “that’s Arsenal’s final piece”, and it’s not that simple.

‘Hopefully the midfield is done in respect of Zubimendi. I feel a back-up centre-back would be very good. Jakub Kiwior has come in and done very well toward the end of the season but you feel like another one coming in would be great.

‘People talk about a left-back because maybe Myles Lewis-Skelly goes into midfield. Defender, midfielder, forward, even a second goalkeeper. Wishful thinking.’

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