‘Arsenal called’ - Director confirms Gunners approach for €75m target

Arsenal’s latest attempt to sign a new striker has fallen on deaf ears once again.

Arsenal have contacted Espanyol about signing striker Raul de Tomas, according to the club’s sporting director Jose Maria Duran.

As Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang edges closer to a loan move to Barcelona, Arsenal have a problem. They only have two other strikers in Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah. The pair, though, will probably leave in the summer once their respective contracts expire.

Gabriel Martinelli and Nicolas Pepe can provide cover in central attack, although it’s clear Mikel Arteta needs more concrete options.

The Gunners boss tried to sign Dusan Vlahovic, but the Serbian has instead joined Juventus in a €70 million. He then tried a last-ditch move to prize De Tomas over to London. But Espanyol immediately shut the door on a player whose release clause is priced at €75 million.

📺🔴 ESTRENEM '21', el programa setmanal sobre l'@RCDEspanyol

Durán, davant l'interès de l'Arsenal: "No deixarem marxar RDT"#21E3 #RCDE pic.twitter.com/pVpBIdarHp

— Esport3 (@esport3) January 31, 2022

“Arsenal called for Raul de Tomas, but we didn’t even want to talk,” Duran told Catalan network Esport 3.

“We won’t let him go now, no way. His release clause is €75m. (£62.5m).”

With only hours left until Monday’s transfer deadline at midnight, Arsenal’s search for a new striker is on the brink of a disappointing end.

De Tomas, meanwhile, will return to action next Monday when Espanyol face Athletic Club in La Liga. The former Real Madrid striker is the joint-second highest goalscorer in the Spanish league, behind only Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema.