Christian Kofane has told Mikel Arteta exactly what he wants to hear amid Arsenal interest

Christian Kofane's comments speak volumes after Arsenal reportedly made contact through the Cameroonian striker's agent

Arsenal target Christian Kofane has already said all the things Mikel Arteta wants to hear as he eyes another forward signing this summer.

The Gunners have been linked with a plethora of forwards in recent months, ranging from La Liga stars Julian Alvarez and Vinicius Junior, to Morgan Rogers and PSG’s Bradley Barcola. Having missed out on several of those targets, it is still unclear whether manager Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta are prioritising a striker or a left winger.

However, Bayer Leverkusen striker Kofane is reportedly one potential target. The Cameroonian, 20, scored seven goals in his first season with the Bundesliga side and impressed in a Champions League round of 16 clash with Arsenal last term, where he seemingly caught Arteta’s eye.

The youngster’s agent, Eric Depolo, confirmed the north Londoners’ interest in Kofane in April, stating that they were in pole position to secure his signature. Depolo pointed to factors such as Arteta’s interest and influence, Kofane’s Spanish-speaking ability and Arsenal defender William Saliba’s Cameroonian heritage. He valued his client at around £85million.

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But the striker’s talent on the pitch isn’t the only thing Arteta will consider when weighing up a move for his second forward addition of the summer, having already bought winger Christos Tzolis for £34m. The Spaniard is also a stickler for squad harmony and making sure every player in his squad has the right attitude.

That’s a box Kofane would have already ticked with his previous comments. Having joined Leverkusen last summer and instantly adapted well to the German top flight, the 6ft 2in striker was asked why it was all going so well for him.

He instantly showed he was a team player, telling the official Bundesliga site: "I'd say it's because of my team-mates. Without them I can't perform.

"They help me progress every day. It's a team spirit thing. When I arrived, everything in training felt so fast. The ball moved quickly; everything went quickly. I'm enjoying myself. I love it. It's a very competitive league."

Another thing Arteta is known for is his obsession with winning - a trait Kofane seems to share after opening up about his ambitions in the same interview. He said last term: "For this season, it is to keep improving, adapt to the Bundesliga, adapt to the club's philosophy and grow as a player.

"For the future, [it is] to become more important in the dressing room, help the club win titles, whether in the Champions League, the [DFB] Cup, or the Bundesliga."

But Kofane has now insisted he is in no rush to leave Leverkusen, despite admitting he can see himself playing in the Premier League one day. "I can certainly imagine it, yes. It’s one of the best leagues in the world," Kofane told German newspaper Kicker.

"But I want to take it step by step. I’m young and still have big plans with Bayer Leverkusen. Bayer Leverkusen a great club that has given me a great opportunity and a lot of confidence. I feel very comfortable here."

His comments suggest this could be a potential signing for the future rather than an imminent deal. Arteta has already shown in the past that, if he likes a player, he will keep tabs on their progress and return with an offer further down the line once a deal appears more likely.

The likes of Chelsea, Newcastle, Everton, Barcelona, Brentford and Bayern Munich have also shown interest in the player over the past year, according to his agent.