Arsenal transfer news: Argentina star Cristian Pavon on Unai Emery’s hit list

Arsenal poised to land Pavon

Unai Emery is reportedly hoping to make Argentine ace Cristian Pavon his latest summer signing for Arsenal.

Having already bagged keeper Bernd Leno and defenders Stephan Lichtsteiner and Sokratis Papastathopoulos in recent weeks, Emery now has his heart set on the 22-year-old Boca Juniors frontman, reports the Daily Express.

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Arsenal “will have to meet Pavon’s £44m [€50m] release clause if they are to sign the forward”, says the newspaper, citing Spanish media. That seems unlikely to put off Emery, who is impressed with Pavon’s versatility and believes he can be deployed either up front or down the right flank.

But hold on. The Daily Mail casts doubts on the imminent arrival of Pavon, citing comments that his agent Fernando Hidalgo made in an interview with Ecuador’s Radio La Red. “There is still nothing official from Arsenal,” said Hidalgo, adding that as far he was concerned, Pavon would be staying at Bocas.

Mexican marksman

If the Gunners fail in their bid to land Pavon then might they make a move for Mexican marksman Hirving Lozano?

The Sun claims that Lozano is being trailed by Arsenal, Barcelona and Real Madrid after impressing in the World Cup, not least with his goal-scoring performance in the 1-0 defeat of Germany.

Currently with PSV Eindhoven, the 22-year-old is expected to make a decision about his future later month.

Mjallby: Forsberg would be a flop

Another winger being linked to the Emirates is Sweden’s Emil Forsberg, but former Swedish international-turned-pundit Johan Mjallby doubts that the RB Leipzig forward has what it takes for the top echelons of the Premier League.

Although Forsberg has impressed for Sweden in their World Cup run, which sees them take on England in the quarter-final tomorrow, Mjallby - who spent six years with Celtic - reckons he should stay where he is.

“He’s a very good player, but I’m not sure if he would be able to break into one of the top sides in England,” Mjallby said, according to Goal.com.

The 26-year-old is being tracked by the Gunners and Liverpool, with both clubs believed to have sent scouts to Samara to run the rule over him in the high pressure atmosphere of a World Cup crunch match.