sport news Arsenal need a striker. Could they REALLY try to lure Ollie Watkins after he ... trends now

Tucked safely away in Edu's back pocket is a list of names. An expensive menu of footballers who trade on goals and assists. Game-changers.

The Arsenal sporting director, in cahoots with manager Mikel Arteta, has been tasked with upgrading the team's forward line ahead of next season - Sunday's fruitless display in the shock 2-0 home loss to Aston Villa merely amplifying their mission to improve at the business end of the pitch.

Who they turn to, however, is dependent on a number of variables. Cost, inevitably, will likely become the most prevalent factor of all. Proven attackers don't come cheap.

But, interestingly, there is also a decision to be made on the type of forward Arteta targets. For a while it looked certain Arsenal would look to sign a traditional centre-forward in the mould of Brentford striker Ivan Toney.

But more recently they have considered turning their attentions towards a more modern profile of attacker, one whose all-round game and versatility means he can be deployed primarily as a lone striker but also provide an option out wide.

Discussions over how they proceed will accelerate in the coming weeks, particularly given the ongoing injury concerns of Gabriel Jesus - the club's recognised central forward.

But as exciting as that all sounds, the process will likely leave Edu agitated; the exercise of signing strikers fast becoming one of the most laborious in football recruitment.

Speaking to Mail Sport, one Premier League sporting director highlighted the stark difficulties clubs are facing in search of players who can make the difference.

He stresses that it is not only an issue of cost, but also because there is a shortage of conventional No 9s in European football - a trend that stems from clubs moving towards implementing possession-based philosophies within their academy structures meaning coaches are no longer required to develop central strikers with the same urgency as previous eras.

'You never see two strikers playing in the same academy starting XI anymore,' he said. Instead, the focus has shifted towards developing footballers who are comfortable with the ball at their feet, honing technical ability is the priority now.

Certain clubs are taking that remit so seriously they have proactively reduced crossing sessions at academy level.

'From Under 12's we don't want them crossing and heading,' he added. 'Most teams across Europe play with a front three, so it's now about those players averaging out 40 goals a season - not your front two getting 20 each.'

It appears scoring goals is no longer enough. Perhaps Roy Keane was onto something when he described Erling Haaland - who has plundered 88 goals in 87 starts for Manchester City - as a League Two player recently.

It also begs the questions of where the England national team may turn when Harry Kane - arguably the best conventional striker in Europe - calls time on his international career.

Thankfully, that problem is in the very distant horizon. For Arsenal, though, the issue is immediate. Worryingly, there is no obvious answer.

For example, on Edu's aforementioned list features the name of Ollie Watkins, the Aston Villa striker who excelled against the Gunners in their own back yard on Sunday. That Watkins is of interest to Arsenal shouldn't be viewed as some seismic revelation. Of course he is.

A proven Premier League operator; since Villa's return to the top flight in 2020, Watkins has scored 72 times.

He's accrued 23 direct assists in

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