With Arsenal target Gonzalo Higuaín set to move to Juventus for a reported €95 million, the Gunners are forced to look elsewhere for a new striker this summer.
Manager Arsène Wenger is in the market for competition to Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck next season and with the club being linked to a number of names it will be interesting to see who, if any, he lands.
Here are five names that have been linked with a move away from their club this summer, one of whom could be playing at the Emirates Stadium in 2016-17:
Mauro Icardi (Internazionale)
After three excellent seasons with Internazionale it appears Mauro Icardi could be leaving the San Siro this summer. Once again he is unable to play UEFA Champions League football with Inter, so a move to Arsenal would help him fulfill that ambition.
The Gunners have been linked with a £42 million move for the 23-year-old over the past week but face stiff competition from Napoli who themselves are looking for someone to fill Higuaín’s boots.
48 goals in 91 Serie A appearances give you an idea of what Icardi is all about. He’s an excellent finisher and someone who would be an upgrade on Olivier Giroud. Goals wouldn’t be a problem with the likes of Mesut Özil, Santi Cazorla, Alexis Sánchez, and maybe even Riyad Mahrez creating chances for the Argentine.
Mario Mandžukić (Juventus)
With Higuaín arriving in Turin, Mario Mandžukić could find himself making a move for the third time in as many summers. The striker has played with many of Europe’s top clubs and has recorded a double figure goal tally in nine of his last 10 league seasons.
The Croatian international is 30 now which isn’t always favourable in Arsène Wenger’s books but there is no doubt the former Bayern Munich and Atlético Madrid would offer Arsenal excellent threat up front. He’s good with his feet, in the air and can hold up the ball – basically he’s an upgrade on what the North Londoners already have.
West Ham are the only club to have been strongly linked with Mandžukić recently so there’s every chance Arsenal could sign him if they want to.
Álvaro Morata (Real Madrid)
Initial talk this summer was that Real Madrid would buy back Álvaro Morata from Juventus so they could sell the Spaniard on for a profit. They did the first part but selling him on hasn’t happened yet.
The 2016 UEFA Champions League winners reportedly want £67 million for the 23-year-old that doesn’t have a very impressive goals to games ratio. And with that transfer fee floating around, Arsenal have been linked to Morata less and less over the past few days.
Chelsea are the favourites to sign the Spaniard to give Antonio Conte additional threat up front.
Carlos Bacca (AC Milan)
The Colombian was recently quoted as saying he wants to play UEFA Champions League football this season – something that his current owners aren’t able to offer him.
AC Milan only signed the 29-year-old from Sevilla 12 months ago but he has been a big success in all four full seasons he has played in Europe – Club Bruges and Sevilla prior to his move to Italy. He is excellent at running off the shoulder of the last defender and his movement inside the penalty area finds space too. Perhaps a perfect fitting for the through balls Arsenal centre midfield can make, and then for getting on the end of cutbacks from the likes of Sánchez, Héctor Bellerín and Nacho Monreal.
News would suggest West Ham are currently Arsenal’s biggest rivals in a move for the striker, so if Wenger was keen to bring Bacca to the Emirates one would think now is the time to do so.
Edinson Cavani (Paris Saint-Germain)
The Uruguayan is constantly linked with a move away from the French champions but Edinson Cavani has so far seen out three seasons at the Parc des Prince.
With the loss of Zlatan Ibrahimović to Manchester United this summer it may be even harder to get an offer accepted by Paris Saint-Germain. The Ligue 1 champions could even consider playing Cavani as the central striker this season where if he were to score 20+ goals they could demand even more excessive fees in 12 months’ time.
However, Cavani is 29 now and Arsenal may be priced out of a move this summer and next. He has a great goalscoring record in Italy, France, the Champions League and Europa League. Though he does only have two goals in 10 World Cup matches and zero in 10 Copa América appearances – would he be too much of a gamble for Wenger?
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