Arsenal have reportedly emerged as the latest club to be linked with a move for Red Bull Salzburg forward Karim Adeyemi.
According to Mirror, the race to sign Karim Adeyemi is about to hot up, with Arsenal emerging as the latest club to be interested in a move for the Red Bull Salzburg forward. However, it appears the Premier League giants might need to be patient with their approach, with Salzburg president hinting that the 19-year-old is not expected to move on until the end of the season.
Formerly of Unterhaching youth academy, Adeyemi is widely regarded as one of the most promising youngsters in Europe. He has enjoyed swift growth in recent years with Salzburg, having notched up 73 competitive appearances, scoring 25 goals.
Eleven of his goals have come in the ongoing campaign, with many even regarding him as the future face of the Germany attack. However, what makes the 19-year-old such a sought-after asset in the market is that the German is much more than just a centre-forward.
Although a number nine by trade, Adeyemi can operate on the flanks if required and even in a withdrawn role. The tactical versatility he offers has already appealed to a host of clubs across Europe, including Barcelona. Their new coach Xavi Hernandez is hopeful of completing a summer swoop for the youngster.
The Catalans could face stiff competition from Arsenal, though, with Mikel Arteta identifying Adeyemi as an ideal man to replace Alexandre Lacazette. The Frenchman is widely tipped to move on from the Emirates in January, with Sevilla among clubs reportedly interested in his services.
From a tactical perspective, the German’s potential arrival at Arsenal could make a world of sense. Due to his versatility, pace and technical skill, he can prove to be an ideal strike-partner for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
However, the Gunners themselves are being only tagged as outsiders in the race to sign Karim Adeyemi. As mentioned earlier, the player is heavily valued by Barcelona, but more importantly, the 19-year-old is unlikely to move to the Premier League at this stage of his career, thereby putting Arsenal at the tail end of the queue of suitors.
Even a move to Barcelona is unlikely, with reports in central Europe suggesting Borussia Dortmund as the undisputed frontrunner in pursuit of Adeyemi. While Arsenal would, no doubt, look to make it difficult for Die Schwarzgelben to wrap up the deal to sign the Salzburg forward, they may have to set their sights on other alternatives as well.