Arsenal linked with Fulham's Josh King amid Madueke exit talk

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Arsenal have been credited with an interest in Fulham forward Josh King, according to Swiss outlet 4-4-2.ch, as reported by football.london. The 19-year-old England Under-21 international is also wanted by Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund, with Fulham said to value him at around €60million (£51million).

Mikel Arteta is reported to be "convinced" that King possesses the qualities to succeed at Arsenal, though no formal offer has been made. Any move is unlikely to happen in January, with Fulham not expected to sanction a sale until next summer at the earliest. King's contract at Craven Cottage runs until 2029, and there is currently no indication of a new deal being discussed.

Context from a busy summer window

Arsenal made four signings over the summer, bringing in Bruno Guimaraes in midfield, Ezri Konsa in defence, Christos Tzolis in attack and Illan Meslier as a new goalkeeper option. A wide forward was reportedly on Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta's shortlist before the deadline, with both Vinicius Jr. and Julian Alvarez linked at various points, though neither move materialised.

King's price tag and the competition from other major European clubs suggest any deal, should Arsenal pursue it further, would represent a significant investment in the next transfer cycle rather than an immediate priority.

Madueke's situation adds context

The King links emerge alongside separate reports linking Noni Madueke with a possible exit from Arsenal. Madueke, who joined from Chelsea last summer for £48.5million, has yet to start a Premier League match for the Gunners and is reportedly attracting interest from Atletico Madrid and Juventus, with some reports suggesting a departure as early as January could be discussed.

Should Madueke leave, it would free up space in Arsenal's attacking options, though there is no indication from the source that the two situations are directly linked beyond their timing. Arsenal's business in January and next summer will likely be shaped by developments on both fronts as the club continues to assess its forward line under Arteta.