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Arsenal are reportedly renewing their interested in RB Leipzig forward Emil Forsberg this summer, with new manager Unai Emery wanting to bolster the Gunners’ attack with a player who’s scored and created 58 goals in 112 since joining the Bundesliga side in 2015.

Arsenal have been linked with Forsberg before without a deal ever being agreed, and this latest rumour is unlikely to come true this summer for three key reasons.

Far too expensive

First and foremost, Arsenal can’t afford him as Forsberg is reportedly valued at £47m. The 26-year-old joined Leipzig for £3m from Swedish outfit Malmo FF in 2015 and has gone from strength to strength in the Bundesliga.

He spent his debut season at the Red Bull Arena in the reserve side but become a regular in the first-team in 2015/16, making 32 league appearances and contributing 15 goals. Forsberg’s antics that season led to a lot of interest in his signature which subsequently saw his value rise.

Leipzig held firm when offers came their way and now it may take a bid of nearly £50m to sign the Swedish international – £47m more than Leipzig paid to sign him three years ago. We reported on Saturday that Arsenal have just £50m to spend this summer, so they can’t afford to blow that on one player.

Arsenal have enough attackers

Even if Arsenal could afford Forsberg, there doesn’t appear to be any room for him in the side. The Gunners have a lot of attacking players and need to spend what little money they have this summer on defensive and midfield recruits.

After spending £54m to sign Alexandre Lacazette from Olympique Lyonnais last summer, Arsene Wenger spent £60m to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund in January. He also swapped Alexis Sanchez with Manchester United’s Henrik Mkhitaryan and extended the contract of Mesut Ozil. Arsenal’s attacking quartet is as strong as it can be.

And with Danny Welbeck and Alex Iwobi also competing for playing time, Forsberg would have too many players standing in his way. Arsenal don’t need any more forwards this summer and will likely use their money in better areas.

Too much competition for his signature

Even if Arsenal had the money to sign Forsberg and a void in the side for him to feature, the Gunners would have to navigate past a lot of other interested clubs to land his signature. Expressen say Juventus and Atletico Madrid are keen on the 26-year-old and may be a more attractive proposition than Arsenal.

Juventus won the Serie A title and Coppa Italia this season. Atleti finished second in La Liga and won the Europa League. Arsenal finished sixth in the Premier League and lost in the League Cup final and Europa League semi-final. It’s hard to see why Forsberg would choose Arsenal over the two European giants if all three sides went head-to-head this summer.

Summary

Arsenal may have been genuinely interested in Forsberg at one point, but it seems highly unlikely they will sign him. Not only can the Gunners not afford him, Wenger built a fantastic attacking quartet before stepping down, so they don’t really need him. Arsenal aren’t beating out Juventus and Atleti for his signature either.

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