Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger is in the market for a new striker to add competition to Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck this summer. In the process it may help decrease Arsenal’s odds of winning the Premier League title which currently stand at 6/1, but right now that would not be a sensible but and there are much more attractive lines for soccer in the EPL.
Giroud has been inconsistent during his four years at Arsenal whilst Welbeck have never proven to be a regular goalscorer. The Gunners’ fans are desperate for their boss to land a top striker and here are three top players that have been strongly linked to the Emirates this month:
1. Mauro Icardi (Internazionale)
Some reports suggested Arsenal could land the 23-year-old for around £40 million which would work out very good value in today’s market given the talent and potential of the Internazionale striker.
Mauro Icardi has scored regularly for an Inter team that haven’t competed for the title in all three of his seasons with the club, netting 48 goals in 91 Serie A appearances since moving from Sampdoria.
The Argentine can hold up the ball well which would fit in well with Wenger’s 4-2-3-1 formation and the role that Olivier Giroud currently plays. One big asset Icardi has compared to the French international is that he is actually a very lethal finisher. With the likes of Mesut Özil, Santi Cazorla and Alexis Sánchez around creating chances, Arsenal fans deserve somebody like Icardi who can put the ball in the back of the net frequently.
2. Gonzalo Higuaín (Napoli)
Various reports have been coming out of Italy recently – some saying Napoli will accept an offer for Gonzalo Higuaín, others saying he’s not for sale, some saying he want to leave, others saying he’s happy to stay.
The latest rumours are that Juventus are happy to pay a whooping £80 million for the 28-year-old who is coming off the back of a record-breaking Serie A season where he scored 36 goals in 35 appearances.
Arsenal could certainly do with someone like that leading their line. Gonzalo Higuaín is one of the best in the world right now and has been for some years. It always seemed a strange decision for Real Madrid to let him go. Would Wenger splash out so much money on a player of his age? The Gunners boss may need to do so just to compete with the top four this season following the investments from Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool so far this summer.
There is no doubt the South American would make an impact with any club he joins – we’ll have to wait and see if any club can lure him away from Naples this summer.
3. Carlos Bacca (AC Milan)
The Colombian hitman has made it known that his desire is to play UEFA Champions League football and that is not something AC Milan can offer Carlos Bacca this season.
Despite this, the 29-year-old has been strongly linked with a move to West Ham United. This would certainly suggest that Arsène Wenger could sign Carlos Bacca if he wanted to. The price being thrown around is £25 million, which, whilst it may seem a lot for a player of his age – the Premier League TV deal makes it a comfortable price for the North London side.
Bacca has been a terrific striker during his four full seasons in Europe – with Club Bruges, two with Sevilla and last season with AC Milan. His movement and finishing are both excellent and would be an upgrade on Olivier Giroud and a big asset to the club if they were to sign him.
