Mick Brown

Sun 9 February 2025 12:25, UK

Arsenal are still keen to find a replacement for Kai Havertz despite a lack of incoming activity during the January transfer window.

That is according to former Man United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected within the game, as he exclusively told Football Insider that Mikel Arteta will discuss potential targets with his transfer team.

The boss is said to have been disappointed by their lack of signings in January, and is set to push for new arrivals when the summer window opens.

Brown told Football Insider last month that Arteta has become “very concerned” about the depth of his squad amid an ever-growing injury crisis.

However, Arsenal believe that Havertz will be a good enough option to see them through until the end of the season thanks to his 15 goals so far this term.

There is, though, a feeling that a more natural goalscorer and out-and-out number nine would help to bridge the gap to becoming a title-winning side rather than a competitor.

Mikel Arteta makes Kai Havertz transfer decision at the Emirates

Brown first told Football Insider of Arsenal’s plans to sign a new striker in October, as he explained that a list of potential options was being put together behind the scenes.

Now, the former scout who has a wealth of experience in top-level player recruitment after over a decade at Man United during their most successful period, has insisted that the position remains a priority despite what Havertz brings to the squad.

“The talk about Havertz has been going on for long enough now,” he told Football Insider.

“There’s a feeling at Arsenal that if they’re going to win the Premier League title, they need somebody better to lead the line.

“There are times where he looks a real player, he offers good movement and all of that, but other times he misses chances you can’t really afford to be missing.

“I think, for now, they accept that he’ll do enough to get them to the end of the season because he does still score goals, he’s not totally useless.

“But I don’t think their position has changed since they first started looking at options.

“Arteta wasn’t happy that they didn’t strengthen in January, because they needed to.

“So if Arsenal can get a top-quality replacement, I expect them to do that in the summer.

“Arteta will sit down with his recruitment team and they’ll draw up a list of names and go from there.

“Somebody like Alexander Isak would be ideal, but that will depend on whether he’s available and what sort of money they’re going to ask for.”

Ollie Watkins ‘open to Arsenal move’ after January twist

Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins was the subject of a £60million bid from Arsenal in January as they attempted to bolster their attacking options.

Brown told Football Insider on 6 February that the Gunners are prepared to reignite their interest in the summer, and the 29-year-old would be keen to make the move.

Watkins would welcome the chance to become the first-choice striker in a potentially title-winning side, and views the move as a step up from his role at Villa Park.

Villa, meanwhile, are expected to be more open to his departure in the summer as they will have more time to find a replacement and reinvest the funds in their squad.

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