Arsenal have held direct contact over Bayer Leverkusen forward Christian Kofane, his agent says, with the club’s interest described as genuine as the summer transfer window approaches. The 19-year-old Cameroon international started both legs of Leverkusen’s Champions League round of 16 defeat to Arsenal, a tie that has brought him to wider attention.

Sky Sport Germany’s Florian Plettenburg identified Arsenal and Real Madrid among clubs “monitoring” Kofane. Agent Eric Depolo spoke to Daily Arsenal about the player’s situation and the prospect of a move to the Emirates Stadium.

Depolo is quoted as saying “Arsenal’s interest is genuine” and that Mikel Arteta “likes [Kofane] very much.” On negotiations he added: “There is contact between me and Arsenal . But their focus right now is to win the league—from there everything will start moving.”

The agent also listed several clubs likely to compete for Kofane’s signature, naming Chelsea, Newcastle, Everton and Brentford from the Premier League, alongside Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Depolo went further, saying “Arsenal are in pole position” to sign Kofane, citing factors such as speaking Spanish like Arteta and William Saliba’s Cameroonian heritage.

Estimates of Kofane’s value vary widely. The original Sky Sport Germany report put an upper valuation at $80.7 million (€70 million, £61.1 million) for a player viewed as long-term potential rather than a proven impact signings. Depolo has quoted a significantly higher figure, giving an agent valuation of $115.3 million.

The agent’s comments confirm active interest and contact but also make clear Arsenal’s immediate priority remains on the title race, with transfer movement dependent on how the season finishes.

Luiz Henrique has openly put Arsenal on notice after his role in Brazil’s goal during the March friendly with France. The Brazil forward, introduced as a substitute, spoke directly about a potential move to the Premier League leaders and highlighted what he admires about the club.

“I really like Arsenal,” Henrique gushed to Flashscore , “the way they play, aggressive. They play a lot on the left and right, so I’m keen to play for Arsenal.

“I’ve already spoken to Gabriel Magalhães and Gabriel Martinelli, they say the team is excellent, they really like Arteta, they say he’s always listening to the players. God willing, I’d like to have the opportunity to work with him.”

Henrique is a left-footer capable of playing anywhere across the frontline, although he prefers cutting onto his strong side from the right flank. That versatility could be significant for Arsenal. The club already has two of the Premier League’s best left-footed right wingers competing for the same role, yet Henrique could offer an alternative if he were deployed as a left winger.

There are signs Arsenal might seek a fresh outlet on the left. One analyst quoted in The Athletic described the threat: “You don’t mind them attacking down their left.” The only danger was conceding a corner which Declan Rice would take.

Within Arsenal’s current options, Leandro Trossard has five Premier League goals and as many assists this season. Gabriel Martinelli, by contrast, has struggled for domestic consistency; he has scored just one top-flight goal all term and registered fewer direct goal contributions than Arsenal’s right back, Jurriën Timber. Martinelli’s route into the first team was unconventional, having been signed from Brazil’s third tier, a reminder that Arsenal have previously recruited from outside the usual markets.

Henrique plies his trade in the Russian Premier League, a competition Opta ranks 23rd in the world, roughly comparable to the second tiers of Spain (20th) and Germany (25th). Even so, it is not as though Henrique is exactly tearing apart this inferior opposition.

England manager Thomas Tuchel acknowledged that Arsenal’s wave of international withdrawals can appear problematic, but he focused his concern on how Mikel Arteta has managed Declan Rice. Tuchel defended the honesty of Rice and Bukayo Saka while shifting responsibility to the club and its head coach. “They arrived injured,” he said. “We knew after the [Carabao Cup] final that there are issues.”

The former Chelsea boss added that it was for Arsenal and Arteta to “decide for themselves how much risk they’re taking” by selecting players in compromised conditions. “I’m not willing to take this risk for my key player,” Tuchel pointedly added.

Tuchel recounted Rice’s long-running discomfort and how the midfielder had continued to play through pain. “He feels a discomfort since quite a while,” Tuchel said of Rice, “and he’s playing through it, and he’s just now on the edge, where he thinks, ‘Does this make sense, what I’m doing here, to push through with 70% and push myself and push myself?’ And the same with Bukayo.”

Arteta defended Rice’s contribution after the December episode when the midfielder missed Arsenal’s 4–1 win over Aston Villa with a swollen knee. Four days later Rice started against Bournemouth and scored twice in a 3–2 victory. “Declan Rice was struggling the last few days,” Arteta admitted, “but pushed and pushed and pushed and made himself available. He played 96 minutes, scored two goals and was one of the best players on the pitch. That is the mentality we need from all of us.”

Tuchel said the number of Arsenal withdrawals had reached double digits and accepted that “it looks a bit suspicious.” “Everyone can do the math and it’s a lot of players, of course, and during the situation, it looks a bit suspicious,” he conceded, while stressing he could only speak for his squad. “They both came,” Tuchel outlined. “Declan was even out on the pitch. He did not come and say, ‘Guys, I’m going home.’ I heard there were [international] camps where players did not even show up with boots and stuff. Then it becomes, ‘O.K.’

On medical checks and trust he added: “I understand the look of it,” Tuchel added. “I still have 100% trust in the honesty of Bukayo and Declan. We did medical tests. I saw them. I have no reason to believe that Declan is not honest with me. I have no reason to believe Bukayo is not honest. But given the amount of [withdrawn] Arsenal players, I understand the look.”

Tuchel also reflected on Madueke’s collision at Wembley: “Actually he got lucky that it’s not worse,” the 52-year-old reflected. “He is out for some days and maybe some weeks but it could have been much worse. It was a proper collision.”