Arsenal are reportedly one of three Premier League teams to make 'initial contact' over a summer deal for Fiorentina striker Moise Kean.
The Gunners decided not to pursue a new centre-forward in January despite Gabriel Jesus's season-ending ACL injury, a move that backfired horribly when Kai Havertz was ruled out for the rest of the campaign with a hamstring issue.
Also lamenting the absence of chief creator Bukayo Saka, Arsenal have scored just twice in their last four Premier League games and find themselves 12 points behind Liverpool with just nine games remaining.
With the Premier League title race more or less a foregone conclusion, Arsenal's best chance of success this season rests in the Champions League, where they are preparing for a blockbuster quarter-final with Real Madrid next month.
The Gunners may have to face Los Blancos with makeshift striker Mikel Merino filling in up front, an experiment that has yielded mixed results, although his winner in Sunday's 1-0 success over Chelsea was his fourth strike from seven games.
Arsenal face £43.6m Kean decision?
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Even if Havertz is fit to return for the start of next season, Arsenal will undoubtedly pursue a new big-name striker, having also put their plans to reinforce their attack on ice last summer.
According to Tuttomercatoweb, Fiorentina's Kean is firmly on the Gunners' radar, and the club have already 'established initial contacts' to understand whether a deal may be doable.
Kean failed to make the grade during his first spell in the Premier League with Everton and also did not set the world alight at Paris Saint-Germain, but he is now living up to his potential in his homeland.
The Italy international has come up with 20 goals in 34 appearances across all competitions this season, including 15 strikes from 26 Serie A matches, the second-most in the division behind Mateo Retegui's 22 for Atalanta BC.
Kean's Fiorentina contract does not run out until the summer of 2029, but the 25-year-old's terms apparently include an affordable release clause set at €52m (£43.6m), which can be triggered this summer.
However, Arsenal will face competition from Newcastle United and West Ham United to bring Kean back to the Premier League, and the striker will ultimately have the final say on his future.
What other centre-forwards are Arsenal after?
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A £43.6m deal for Kean would not break the Emirates bank, and the Italy international would be a much more affordable option than Newcastle United's Alexander Isak, who could cost upwards of £120m.
Neither Sporting Lisbon's Viktor Gyokeres nor Napoli's Victor Osimhen appear to be firmly on Arsenal's radar for the summer, but they will be expected to reignite their interest in RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko.
The Slovenia international was heavily linked with a switch to North London last year before extending his stay at the Red Bull Arena, although his new terms still include a release clause worth between £50.3m and £67.1m depending on his performance.
Kean's fellow Serie A strikers Retegui, Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez have also been tipped to join Mikel Arteta's side, as incoming sporting director Andrea Berta is said to be a huge fan of the latter.
Ben Knapton
