The £25m stunning winger who Arsenal must make their first summer signing

Dust yourself down, go again. For a second season running, Arsenal pushed Manchester City all the way in the Premier League title race, and for a second season running, they came up short at the last. As a consequence, you suspect that the Gunners will look to reinforce their squad once more over the course of the summer transfer window, and already a number of prospective targets have been touted.

Up front, the likes of Benjamin Sesko and Victor Osimhen continue to be linked, while at full-back, Fenerbahce star Ferdi Kadıoğlu is said to be of high interest. But in amongst the glut of names, one that remains particularly intriguing is that of Girona winger Viktor Tsygankov.

The Ukrainian has enjoyed a wonderful season in La Liga, helping his side to a top three finish, and will travel to Germany this week ahead of his nation’s Euro 2024 campaign. With 53 caps to his name already, he is widely expected to be one of Andriy Shevchenko’s most valuable assets over the coming weeks, and having returned 15 goal contributions in 30 league outings over the course of his domestic campaign, there is a real feeling that this could prove to be a breakout tournament for the 26-year-old.

Interest in him could, therefore, sky-rocket, but if a report from Spanish outlet AS is to be believed, Arsenal are already considering the prospect of a raid between now and the end of August. It is understood that Tsygankov is garnering favour from a host of suitors, including the Gunners, bitter rivals Tottenham, and Italian giants AC Milan. His contract in Catalonia is not due to expire until 2027, but he does have a release clause of around £25.3 million written into his contract, and at that price point, would represent an affordable option to host of continental heavy hitters.

To that end, Arsenal are said to hold an advantage over Spurs - if not Milan - due to their qualification for the Champions League next season, and there is a real feeling that an agreement could be reachable. While Tsygankov is said to be happy at Girona and will not agitate for an exit, the implication from AS appears to be that if the right offer were to come along, he could be tempted into a fresh challenge elsewhere.

And Arsenal would be more than happy to offer him exactly that. According to this latest report, Mikel Arteta is ‘in love with the player and believes that he could fit perfectly into his team.’ Who are we to argue with him?

While the Gunners are fortunate enough to boast a number of elite attacking options, one criticism that has been repeatedly levelled at them over the course of the past couple of seasons is that they lack a certain amount of strength in depth. Tsygankov, capable of playing on either flank, or through the centre in a more traditional number 10 role, would go a long way towards alleviating that particular problem.

The Ukrainian is a technically gifted dynamo with an eye for a canny pass, a predatory finisher’s streak, and a real knack for retaining possession. He is, in other words, a well-rounded attacking presence whose appeal is entirely understandable - especially to a club like Arsenal who could use a sprinkling of support all across their forward line.

Make no mistake, though, if the Gunners are to land Tsygankov this summer, they will need to act swiftly to fend off the competition. A strong showing in Germany, and the need to do so could grow even more.