Arsenal now want to sign £60m striker who Real Madrid sold just two months ago
Arsenal’s need for a new striker has not gone away.
The Gunners tried to sign Julian Alvarez all summer, but the Argentine ended up staying at Atletico Madrid in the end. No other striker was pursued or brought in either.
Now, Kai Havertz has suffered an injury, and Viktor Gyokeres, who Mikel Arteta has shown little faith in this season, has to step up in the coming weeks.
Irrespective of what happens, it is clear that Arsenal need a new striker in the long run, and they have set their sights on a former Real Madrid man.
Arsenal are interested in signing Gonzalo Garcia from Fulham
Gonzalo Garcia was viewed as one of Real Madrid’s most exciting young talents.
The 22-year-old played over 50 games for the Galacticos, but in August, Alvaro Arbeloa brought him to Fulham in a £34 million deal.
Real Madrid sold him but inserted a buy-back clause in the deal. They also hold the rights to a percentage of any future sale should the striker move to another club from Craven Cottage.
4-4-2 have now revealed that Arsenal are interested in Garcia and have watched him in action for Fulham in the opening weeks of the new season.
The Cottagers have struggled, but Garcia has caught the eye up front. That is why the Gunners are interested, as are Unai Emery’s Aston Villa.
However, the report claims that Fulham will stand strong in any potential negotiations and are set to demand a fee in the region of €60-70 million (£51-60m).
That is not an unaffordable fee for a club like Arsenal – in fact, that’s significantly cheaper than what players like Julian Alvarez, Eli Junior Kroupi or Victor Osimhen would cost.
However, Garcia is far less established at the top level compared to any of those names, so it remains to be seen if Arsenal will pay what Fulham want to get him in 2027.
Xabi Alonso has compared Gonzalo Garcia to Raul Gonzalez
Garcia has earned praise from plenty of big names in Spain, including current Chelsea and former Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso.
The legendary Spaniard, who is a very close friend of Mikel Arteta, has raved about the striker in the past and even compared him to Los Blancos icon Raul Gonzalez.
He said in 2025, as per Goal: “I had no doubts about Gonzalo. What he’s doing isn’t a surprise. He’s done it many times at Castilla. At least for him.
“He’s the typical number nine, who knows how to wait for his opportunity, who moves well. I’m very happy for him. He has Raul qualities in his movements.”
Gyokeres’ movement is not the best in this Arsenal system, which is perhaps why Arteta is looking for a younger replacement who can be developed to fit the philosophy. Garcia checks that box.