Arsenal are preparing another look at Christian Kofane. TEAMtalk, which has been pushing the story this week, says Mikel Arteta’s side are ready to reignite their pursuit of the Bayer Leverkusen striker, with a valuation of around €65m (approximately £54m) attached to any deal.

BBC Sport’s Alex Howell has also reported Arsenal’s continued monitoring of the 20-year-old Cameroon international, who has been on the club’s shortlist since the Champions League last-16 tie between the two sides last season. Nothing has been confirmed by either club.

Kofane is currently out with a hamstring injury. He had scored three goals in six appearances for Leverkusen in all competitions this season before the setback, having arrived from Spanish second-tier side Albacete in July 2025.

Contract until 2029 strengthens Leverkusen’s hand

The forward’s contract runs until 2029, which gives the German champions considerable leverage over any winter approach. Read Arsenal reports that talks over a new deal have stalled, though Leverkusen’s internal asking price has been placed closer to €70m (around £60m) in recent coverage.

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That figure is some way below where Kofane’s representatives were publicly pitching him earlier in the year. In April, agent Eric Depolo told TEAMtalk that the striker’s camp placed his value closer to €100m, describing Arsenal’s interest as serious and framing him as a long-term solution at centre-forward.

The player’s rise has been rapid. Kofane joined Albacete from AS Nylon in Cameroon in 2024, scored eight goals in 20 La Liga 2 appearances, and moved to the BayArena a year later. His debut Bundesliga campaign produced seven goals and nine assists across 44 games in all competitions.

A crowded field of suitors

Arsenal are not alone in the race. TEAMtalk lists Liverpool and Manchester City as monitoring the Cameroon international, while Read Arsenal adds Manchester United, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich to the group of clubs said to be tracking him. Everton’s reported summer approach is also noted as background.

TEAMtalk mentions Bournemouth’s Eli Junior Kroupi as an alternative striker Arsenal are looking at, which hints at the price bracket the club is working in for January.

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The striker question Arteta still has not solved

Arteta’s forward line has leaned heavily on Kai Havertz, with summer signing Viktor Gyökeres used as the backup option. The Spaniard has been pushing his side to create more against deep defensive blocks, telling reporters after the Hull City win that his players had been trying too hard to craft “the perfect goal” rather than take the openings in front of them.

A £54m-plus winter move would be a sizeable commitment for a player who has started only a handful of Bundesliga games this season and is currently in rehab. Neither Arsenal nor Leverkusen has publicly commented on a renewed approach, and no bid has been confirmed at either end.

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