Arsenal news: £73m Man Utd transfer target eyed as club 'resigned to losing' key player

Arsenal appear to be pushing on with their summer transfer business after losing the chance to sign Vinicius Jr from Real Madrid

Arsenal have supposedly set their sights on another attacking player after failing to land Vinicius Jr. The Gunners will be out to defend their Premier League crown with the new season approaching.

Mikel Arteta's side are still in the market for a forward this summer with pre-season in full flow. The manager was extremely interested in bringing Vinicius Jr to the Premier League after his contract negotiations with Real Madrid stalled. However, the Brazilian winger has now secured a new deal until 2032, putting to bed the chance of an exit.

Now, the reigning Premier League champions will reportedly move on to other targets, including a £ 73 million-rated striker who Manchester United are also eyeing. Here, Mirror Football has the latest coming out of the red side of north London.

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£73m Man Utd transfer target eyed

After failing to sign Vinicius Jr, Arsenal may end up competing with United for the signature of Inter Milan's Pio Esposito. The Sun reports that the Gunners sent scouts to Inter's pre-season derby against AC Milan to keep tabs on the 21-year-old.

It is claimed that Arteta is planning to add to his striking department, which includes Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz, and the 6ft3in Esposito has impressed him in recent months. United are also thought to be keen on the young striker but, unlike Arsenal, are not planning to rush into an offer.

However, Inter have publicly stated that Esposito is "untouchable" to try and ward off European clubs. But it's reported that the Serie A outfit has placed a £73m price tag in private, in case offers do come rolling in.

Sources close to Esposito claim that, whilst he is committed to Inter, the allure of the Premier League is on his mind. He is understood to be open to a move to England.

Aston Villa 'resigned to losing' key player

Elsewhere, Aston Villa are reportedly 'resigned to losing' Ezri Konsa as Arsenal stump up their offer for the veteran defender. Arteta raised interest in the centre-half after losing William Saliba to a back injury at the World Cup, and now is handling injuries to Ben White and Jurrien Timber.

The 28-year-old is a primary target for the Gunners but their initial bid was understood to be just over half of Villa's £60m price tag. However, the The Mail reports that Villa are growing "increasingly concerned" that Konsa could be off this summer.

Konsa's own team-mates are reportedly worried that he is planning an exit, with Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans having already departed this summer. Liverpool are also handling a defensive crisis of their own and could swoop in for Konsa.

Virgil van Dijk is now returning to the squad post-World Cup, but with a pre-season injury to Joe Gomez and an absence of Jeremy Jacquet in other friendly fixtures, Andoni Iraola's side needs reinforcements quickly.

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