Arsenal Targets Porto's Oskar Pietuszewski for Left-Wing Overhaul
Arsenal are preparing a bold move for FC Porto teenager Oskar Pietuszewski as the club quietly plans for major surgery on the left flank this summer.
Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli are currently Mikel Arteta’s recognised options on that side, but both futures are in play. According to TEAMtalk, new sporting director Andrea Berta is ready to cash in on Martinelli if a £50 million offer lands on the table. Trossard, meanwhile, has attracted serious interest from Napoli, with Football Transfers reporting the Belgian is tempted by a switch from North London to Naples.
That uncertainty has pushed Arsenal into the market, and one name has rocketed to the top of their list: Pietuszewski.
Arsenal’s €40m play for a 17-year-old
Sports Boom report that Arsenal have been so taken with the Poland international’s performances for Porto that they are prepared to offer around €40m (£34.6m) for the 17-year-old winger.
Inside the club, the teenager is viewed as an ideal fit for Arteta’s young, high-energy squad. As the report puts it, Arsenal see Pietuszewski as a “perfect fit” for their dynamic structure, with whispers suggesting the London side could soon “knock on Porto’s door” with an opening bid in that region.
Pietuszewski only joined Porto from Jagiellonia Białystok in January 2026, signing a deal that runs until 2029. He has wasted no time making an impact: three goals and four assists in 15 appearances across all competitions have been enough to alert some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
Release clause roadblock
There is a problem. Porto do not intend to let him go cheaply.
Sports Boom state that the Portuguese champions will not consider a sale below the €60m (£52m) release clause currently written into his contract. On top of that, Porto are already planning their next move. Once Pietuszewski turns 18, they intend to offer him an improved deal and raise that clause significantly, potentially to between €80m and €100m (up to £86.6m).
If Arsenal want him at a semi-reasonable price, they may need to move fast.
Heavyweight competition circling
Arsenal are far from alone.
Chelsea and Manchester City have both been tracking Pietuszewski closely. City are even weighing up a buy-and-loan-back strategy, signing him now and sending him straight back to Porto for another season of development.
On the continent, Bayern Munich are watching, and Borussia Dortmund are firmly in the mix as well. Dortmund, renowned for polishing young attacking talent, have been particularly impressed, with internal assessments highlighting his “pace and suitability for transition play as flawless.”
For a 17-year-old with only a handful of senior games, that is serious attention – and serious pressure on Arsenal if they want to win this race.
Berta plans while Arteta chases titles
While Berta maps out a potential overhaul of Arsenal’s left wing and weighs up big-money offers and release clauses, Arteta’s focus sits firmly on the pitch.
Arsenal currently hold a three-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table. City, though, have a game in hand and remain favourites with many to retain their crown.
On the European front, Arsenal are preparing for a Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid, with the first leg in Spain on Wednesday. A title push at home, a shot at glory in Europe, and a looming summer of high-stakes transfer calls.
If Arsenal do decide to cash in on Martinelli, if Trossard takes the lure of Naples, and if they are willing to meet Porto’s demands, Pietuszewski could be the next big project on Arteta’s touchline.
The question now is simple: will Arsenal strike early, or watch Europe’s elite drive the price of Porto’s latest jewel out of their reach?
