Abdallah Sima is being watched by Arsenal, Manchester United and West Ham (Image: Getty)
Arsenal have been reinforced to sign Slavia Prague star Abdallah Sima. The striker is expected to move to England in the summer transfer window.
19-year-old Sima joined Slavia’s B-team last July but was soon promoted to the first-team squad. He was in rampant form for the Czech champions, scoring 19 goals in all competitions this season.
A string of eye-catching performances in the Europa League has earned the youngster many admirers in the game’s elite, and an unnamed team has already put in an ambitious £ 25m bid for his signature.
According to The Evening Standard, Slavia hit Sima at a £ 50million price in January, thanks to strong interest from Arsenal, Manchester United, West Ham, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus.
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The report claims that the teenager – who has already been capped by Senegal – would be in favor of moving to the Premier League and that his representatives are in close contact with several teams in England’s top flight.
Arsenal see Sima as a possible long-term replacement for Alexandre Lacazette, who only has one year left for his current contract in the Emirates.
Lyon striker Moussa Dembele is another player who is firmly on the Gunners’ radar in the second half of the season despite his disappointing loan at Atletico Madrid.
Uncertainty remains about Lacazette’s future (Image: Getty)
When asked for an update on Lacazette’s future last month, Arteta told reporters, “We’re going to bring up the situation with Laca in the summer, talk to him and just suggest the future we want and that’s it.
“It all depends on where we are, how much we win and where we play next season.
“There are no exceptions and we all have to be clear about that, given the context we are in our industry right now.”
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Lacazette has scored 17 goals in all competitions for Arsenal this season – two goals away from his best time of 19 in the 2018/19 season – and Arteta was particularly impressed with the Frenchman’s “phenomenal” work performance.
“I think he’s been in really good shape for months,” he added.
‘He maintains that level, scores goals and offers the team something else. His speed of work has been phenomenal and that’s what we want.
“We need these kinds of players who get to the next level because we missed goals over the course of the season, this creativity in the last third.”
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