{"id":1707,"date":"2026-04-02T13:46:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T13:46:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/?p=1707"},"modified":"2026-04-02T13:46:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T13:46:00","slug":"mikel-arteta-likes-him-very-much-agent-confirms-arsenal-talks-to-sign-52m-striker-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/?p=1707","title":{"rendered":"‘Mikel Arteta likes him very much’ – Agent confirms Arsenal talks to sign \u00a352m striker | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\n\t\t\"Newcastle\t<\/div>
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is an admirer of Christian Kofane, claims the forward\u2019s agent (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Christian Kofane\u2019s agent claims he has held transfer talks with Arsenal and Mikel Arteta likes the Bayer Leverkusen striker \u2018very much\u2019.<\/p>\n

Kofane is enjoying an eye-catching debut season in the Bundesliga after joining Leverkusen from Albacete for a small fee last summer.<\/p>\n

Although not yet a nailed-on starter under Kasper Hjulmand, the 19-year-old has made a significant impact at Leverkusen, registering seven goals and eight assists in his first 37 appearances for the club.<\/p>\n

Kofane\u2019s name may already be familiar to some Arsenal supporters after he caught the eye in both legs of Leverkusen\u2019s Champions League last-16 elimination at the hands of the Gunners.<\/p>\n

The imposing centre-forward more than held his own against Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba and was perhaps unfortunate not to score in the second meeting, with David Raya producing a stunning save to deny him late on at the Emirates.<\/p>\n

Earlier on in the competition, Kofane became Leverkusen\u2019s youngest ever Champions League goalscorer with the opening goal in a 1-1 draw at home to\u00a0PSV Eindhoven.<\/p>\n

Leverkusen\u2019s \u20ac5million (\u00a34.4m) deal with Albacete for Kofane now appears an extremely savvy piece of business as the teenager goes from strength to strength with every passing game. <\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Bayer\t<\/div>
Kofane is enjoying an outstanding debut season with Leverkusen (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\n\t\t\"Arsenal\t<\/div>
The teenager caused Gabriel and Saliba problems in the Champions League (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A report from Sky Germany <\/a>this week claimed Arsenal and Real Madrid had both been monitoring Kofane, with Leverkusen tempted to sell should they receive an offer of between \u20ac60-70million (\u00a352m-61m).<\/p>\n

\u2018Yes, Arsenal\u2019s interest is genuine,\u2019 Kofane\u2019s agent Eric Depolo told Daily Arsenal<\/a> in response to the rumours.<\/p>\n

\u2018The manager (Mikel Arteta) likes him very much.\u2019<\/p>\n

Asked which other clubs had expressed an interest in Kofane, Depolo replied: \u2018Chelsea, Newcastle, Everton, Brentford, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.\u2019<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Hamburger\t<\/div>
Kofane is also attracting interest from Real Madrid and Barcelona (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Depolo suggested the presence of both Arteta and Saliba in north London put Arsenal in \u2018pole position\u2019 to strike a deal for the Cameroon international.<\/p>\n

\u2018I think it is too early to say (which club is leading the race),\u2019 he explained.<\/p>\n

\u2018But due to the fact that the player speaks Spanish, like Mikel Arteta, and that William Saliba is originally from Cameroon, I would say Arsenal are in pole position.<\/p>\n

\u2018There is contact between me and Arsenal. But their focus right now is to win the league \u2013 from there everything will start moving.\u2019<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"FBL-WC-2026-AUS-CMR\"\t<\/div>
The youngster won his fourth cap for Cameroon on Tuesday (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Kofane\u2019s current contract, which he signed upon arrival at Leverkusen, runs through to the summer 2026.<\/p>\n

Leverkusen chiefs Simon Rolfes and Kim Falkenberg are said to be relaxed about the growing interest in Kofane and are believed to be in regular communication with the attacker\u2019s camp.<\/p>\n

Kofane\u2019s agent reassured Arsenal they would be getting a \u2018complete\u2019 striker for the next decade should they secure a deal for his client.<\/p>\n

\u2018He is a \u20ac100m (\u00a387.3m) player. With Kofane, Arsenal will have a top striker for the next ten years,\u2019 Depolo continued.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Bayer\t<\/div>
Hjulmand is confident Kofane has a \u2018great future\u2019 in the game (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018I have never had as many calls in my life as now regarding Kofane. Right now, he is the best Under-21 striker in Europe and the most complete one.<\/p>\n

\u2018He has speed, technique, defends very well and is strong in the air. It is very difficult to find all these attributes in one striker.\u2019<\/p>\n

Depolo confirmed that Barcelona had also held discussions for the 6\u00a0ft 2\u00a0in forward.<\/p>\n

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Leverkusen head coach Hjulmand has been waxing lyrical about Kofane in the German media, tipping the the youngster for a \u2018great future\u2019 due to his \u2018personality\u2019 on matchdays and on the training ground.<\/p>\n

\u2018For me, it\u2019s impressive enough that Kofi came to Europe at the end of 2024 and moved here in the summer of 2025 \u2013 and how he has developed since then,\u2019 Hjulmand recently said of Kofane.<\/p>\n

\u2018The way he works, how he adapts and learns\u2026 I criticised him a bit in training a few weeks ago and then the next day he came to me and said, \u201cPlease, keep it up. I want more criticism, I want to learn,\u201d and that\u2019s why he\u2019s making these strides.<\/p>\n

\u2018I always tell players, \u201cStay true to yourself in this crazy world, sometimes you might lose touch with reality\u201d, but if you stay true to yourself, everything will be alright.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018He has a great future.<\/p>\n

\u2018I know Christian will stay on this path, with this personality \u2013 and then he will certainly develop even further.\u2019<\/p>\n

For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Arrow<\/title>\n<\/svg>MORE: Steven Gerrard claims \u2018heartbreaking\u2019 \u00a330m Liverpool transfer \u2018set us back a long time\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

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