Arsenal set to table formal offer for £30m assist machine also tracked by Liverpool

Managers are working hard trying to strengthen their squads during the summer transfer window so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip from around the globe. Today, Arsenal are ready to make their move for Ryan Fraser….

Arsenal are ready to table a formal offer for Liverpool target Ryan Fraser next week as Bournemouth prepare to cash-in on the £30m-rated attacker, according to the Independent.

Fraser came through the youth ranks at Scottish outfit Aberdeen before joining Bournemouth in 2013 and he’s developed into a key player for Eddie Howe’s side having made 42 appearances in all competitions this season.

The 25-year-old has earned a reputation as being one of the most creative players in the Premier League after contributing 15 assists and 8 goals this campaign while he’s also a regular with the Scotland squad at international level.

Fraser is about to enter the last year of his contract and is showing no sign of committing himself to a new contract at the Vitality Stadium so Bournemouth are ready to cash-in now rather than risk losing him for nothing next summer.

The situation has alerted clubs at the upper echelons of the division as the Independent claims that Arsenal and Liverpool have been keeping a close eye on Fraser’s progress throughout the season.

Jurgen Klopp is expected to bring in another versatile attacker to offer support to the likes of Mo Salah and Sadio Mane next season and Fraser could be viewed as a potential replacement for Xherdan Shaqiri – who’s being linked with a move away from Anfield.

However, it looks like Arsenal are ready to steal a march on Liverpool as the Independent claims the Gunners will table a formal offer to Bournemouth for Fraser after next week’s Europa League final against Chelsea.

Unai Emery is gearing up for a busy summer and the Arsenal boss desperately needs to add some width to his ranks as Alex Iwobi and Henrikh Mkhitaryan have struggled this season while the loan signing of Denis Suarez turned out to be a disaster.

Fraser is seemingly on Emery’s radar and the attacker admitted he was flattered to be linked with such a ‘huge club’ back in April. When asked about Arsenal’s reported interest, he’s quoted as saying by the Independent:

“I am not going to lie, it is very nice. It means you are doing something right. They are a huge club, a massive club.

“When you see your name thrown around you always think to yourself that you are a Bournemouth player and you try to do well.

“I am not going to lie, you do feel good, especially when it’s a massive club.”

Fraser is clearly open to the idea of moving to Arsenal but the north Londoners will be operating on a tight budget this summer, especially if they fail to beat Chelsea and qualify for the Champions League next season.

The Independent suggests Bournemouth want £30m for Fraser’s signature as Aberdeen are due 20% of any sale but Arsenal are hopeful of driving the price down given the winger has just one year remaining on his contract.

READ MORE –> Arsenal transfer news | Liverpool transfer news

We’ll have to wait and see whether Liverpool respond to Arsenal’s move with a bid of their own but Klopp won’t be able to offer Fraser guaranteed first team football so the Scotland star may end up favouring a move to the Emirates.