Isak? Sesko? Gyokeres? Inside Arsenal's summer plans

Arsenal came adjacent again, but their Champions League semi-final conclusion by Paris St-Germain intends it is 5 years without a trophy for Mikel Arteta and his players.

The Gunners' 3-1 aggregate defeat came successful nan last weeks of a play successful which they were long-time Premier League title contenders, but person slipped 15 points adrift of champions Liverpool pinch 3 games remaining.

At this shape past season, they had 80 points - 13 much than their existent total.

So what comes next? Can they get to that adjacent level? And which players are they looking astatine arsenic they effort to fortify their squad?

This will beryllium a important summer, and caller sporting head Andrea Berta, who joined nan nine from Atletico Madrid successful March, will beryllium a cardinal figure.

Here, we return you done nan club's plans arsenic they guidelines - pulled together from aggregate sources. Unsurprisingly, a striker is apical of their database of targets, pinch Alexander Isak, Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres each coveted.

Midfielder Martin Zubimendi is expected to subordinate from Real Sociedad, Arsenal besides want a winger, and location are cardinal decisions to beryllium made connected contracts.

It is nary concealed Arsenal want to walk a ample information of their summertime fund connected a caller striker.

At nan apical of Arteta's wishlist is Newcastle frontman Isak, and a move for nan Sweden world has almost cosmopolitan backing from those down nan scenes astatine Emirates Stadium.

Well-placed sources person told BBC Sport that Isak would beryllium unfastened to a move to London, though he is apt to person different options - pinch Liverpool besides interested.

All of his suitors are apt to tally into nan aforesaid obstacle: cost.

There is an acknowledgement astatine Arsenal that signing Isak would swipe retired nan immense mostly of their fund - and pinch different positions to strengthen, a woody for nan 25-year-old whitethorn beryllium unlikely.

Newcastle support Isak, who has 3 years near connected his contract, is not for sale.

Should they suffice for nan Champions League, that would adhd different furniture of trouble for immoderate nine pinch genuine designs connected signing him.

But, arsenic ever successful immoderate marketplace, money talks and Arsenal person not closed nan doorway connected a move for Isak conscionable yet.

Arsenal person replacement targets to Isak - namely RB Leipzig's Sesko and Sporting's Gyokeres.

Sesko is simply a semipermanent target and was adjacent to joining nan nine past summer.

Arsenal enquired again successful January, but nan German nine were adamant they had nary volition of trading and nan Gunners did not want to antagonise them earlier a imaginable speech this summer.

Slovenia world Sesko has scored 26 goals this play - already an betterment connected nan 23 he deed past year. At 21, he fits nan perfect property floor plan for Arsenal successful position of financial and method growth.

But nan assignment of Berta has resulted successful Gyokeres' banal rising, pinch sources successful caller weeks indicating location is sizeable soul backing for a move for nan Swede, contempt overmuch of nan groundwork having been completed connected a woody for Sesko.

Both players person merchandise clauses, but nan indications are their clubs are consenting to discuss little fees.

At this stage, sources propose Gyokeres, who has scored 38 convention goals this season, is nan astir economical signing of nan two.

But anterior to Berta's presence location were concerns whether Gyokeres' shape successful Portugal would construe to top-level performances successful nan Premier League.

Similarly, nan truth he will move 27 earlier adjacent play presents a financial dilemma fixed nan apt outlay.

Arsenal are besides looking to motion a winger, pinch Athletic Bilbao's Nico Williams a genuine target.

The Spain world has a reported 58m euro (£49m) merchandise clause, but his wages would make him 1 of nan biggest earners astatine nan club.

Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens has besides been liked pinch nan Gunners.

Much of nan groundwork to fortify nan midfield has already been done.

Martin Zubimendi is expected to subordinate from Real Sociedad - a woody mostly executed by erstwhile sporting head Edu and Jason Ayto, who took nan domiciled connected an interim ground pursuing his predecessor's departure successful November.

Zubimendi, 26, will switch Jorginho, who is group to subordinate Brazilian broadside Flamengo earlier nan Club World Cup.

Whether Arsenal look to motion different midfielder will dangle really statement talks create pinch Thomas Partey.

The 31-year-old Ghana world seemed apt to time off astatine nan extremity of his statement adjacent month, but Berta's presence has signalled a alteration of direction and Partey is being offered nan opportunity to enactment successful northbound London.

Defensively, nan priorities are to unafraid first-choice cardinal pairing William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes to caller contracts.

The early of Saliba is peculiarly cardinal for Arsenal to resoluteness amid speculation Real Madrid person an liking successful nan France international.

Gabriel, meanwhile, has been nan taxable of liking from Saudi Arabia.

Arsenal are among nan clubs to person explored nan anticipation of signing Bournemouth centre-back Dean Huijsen, who has a £50m merchandise clause, and Berta has held talks pinch intermediaries complete replacement options, which lends itself to assuming location is not certainty Saliba aliases Gabriel will remain.

The Gunners whitethorn besides beryllium successful nan marketplace for a back-up goalkeeper, and person held talks complete a move for Espanyol's Joan Garcia.

In summation to talks pinch Partey, Saliba and Gabriel, Arsenal are moving to work together a caller statement pinch attacker Bukayo Saka.

In March, BBC Sport revealed nan club's volition to unfastened general talks pinch nan England international.

That process has now begun, pinch early discussions said to beryllium affirmative amid optimism statement will beryllium reached connected a woody that would make Saka, 23, 1 of nan best-paid players successful nan Premier League.

The nine person besides put improved contracts for Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri towards nan apical of their agenda. Talks pinch nan 18-year-old academy graduates are ongoing, pinch Berta taking nan lead.

The early of Leandro Trossard besides needs resolving. The 30-year-old Belgium international, who has played a cardinal domiciled this season, is retired of statement adjacent summer.

Trossard has held talks complete a caller woody but location is yet to beryllium an announcement complete immoderate agreement. It whitethorn truthful beryllium a information to waste Trossard, who has attracted liking successful Saudi Arabia, to debar losing nan guardant for thing adjacent year.

Arsenal will look to supplement their spending by trading a clutch of fringe players.

Their volition to perceive to offers for Brazil guardant Gabriel Jesus has been delayed by nan knee wounded sustained by nan 28-year-old successful January.

But nan nine will look to offload Oleksandr Zinchenko, while chap left-back Kieran Tierney will besides leave.

Forward Raheem Sterling, connected indebtedness from Chelsea, will caput backmost to Stamford Bridge, and defender Nuno Tavares positive midfielders Fabio Vieira and Albert Lokonga could besides leave.