Arsenal have £117m Man United transfer problem to consider as Dusan Vlahovic lesson learnt

As with a number of transfer targets in the past, Arsenal look set to face significant competition in the market this summer. That is going to be no different in the upcoming window. As Mikel Arteta aims to beat the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur to a Champions League place come the end of the season, he may have to fight off the Gunners’ Premier League rivals off the pitch too.

The starkest threat to Arsenal’s summer transfer plans appear to be Ralf Rangnick’s Red Devils, with United holding an interest in a number of the Gunners’ key targets. The first is Benfica forward Darwin Nunez - the Uruguayan having long been a name associated with a switch to the Emirates Stadium.

After 26 goals in all competitions for the Portuguese giants this term, there is hope that he could potentially be the ideal forward that Arsenal are searching for - especially after they missed out on the signing of Dusan Vlahovic in the summer. It will certainly not be easy to secure his services, though.

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The striker is apparently valued at €80m (£67m) by Benfica and it’s the Red Devils who appear to have stolen an early march. According to The Telegraph, United’s negotiations for the forward are considerably more advanced than Arsenal’s own efforts to secure Nunez, whilst Newcastle United are also noted as admirers.

Whilst Arsenal of course have other options on their shortlist - the likes of Alexander Isak, Victor Osimhen and Dominic Calvert-Lewin having all been mentioned - the blow of losing a significant target to a direct rival would be a blow. The same could also be said in midfield.

The Gunners have long been linked