According to reports, Arsenal have compiled a summer shortlist of potential striker signings, with Arsene Wenger ready to bring in a major name to placate restless Gunners fans, and to help take over their excellent form into next season.
When I say restless Gunners fans, I am of course referring to the striker conundrum festering at the Emirates, with Olivier Giroud remaining the only real striking option at the club.
Wenger’s chance to provide a safety net for Giroud, were he to fall injured, ended with the signing of Kim Kallstrom, who might as well have been mailed from Moscow, considering the state of him now.
But, the Daily Mail have claimed that Wenger is ready to rectify the situation in the close season, and will endeavour to buy a world class striker during a period of strengthening this summer.
Edin Dzeko, Jackson Martinez, Mario Mandzukic and Diego Costa are, says the Mail, high on the transfer agenda at Arsenal.
The four are all tall, strong, and have the ability to play up front on their own, with Wenger seemingly looking for a similar player to Giroud to add to his squad of nippy attacking midfielders.
But who would be the best choice for the Gunners?
Manchester City’s Dzeko is not as tenacious as Giroud, but possesses a good eye for link-up play, and has the ability to get his shot away at short notice.
Primarily used as an impact sub at the Etihad, behind both Alvaro Negredo and Sergio Aguero in the pecking order, Dzeko would surely jump at the chance to increase his playing time at a club short on striking options.
With just one season left on his current City contract, his reported £20m+ price-tag could well be contested by Arsenal, and at 27, Dzeko still has time on his hands to prove his quality.
Bayern Munich’s Mandzukic, also 27, will find his place in the starting XI severely under threat with the impending arrival of Robert Lewandowski in the summer.
With 14 goals in 28, the Croatian is still among the goals, and has been one of the best target men around for the past few seasons. A bid of around £15m could persuade Bayern to do business, and he could be a shrewd acquisition.
Jackson Martinez, the live-wire Porto striker, seemed set to move the the Premier League last month, but remained in the Portuguese League where he has 12 goals in 14 games so far this campaign.
Strong, fast, and agile, Martinez could be an excellent signing. Although his would be a pricey transfer, he could just be the prolific striker the Gunners are looking for.
Costa would be the most expensive, and arguably hardest to lure to North London. The nationalised Spaniard is one of the very best strikers in the world at present, and has attracted strong interest from Manchester United and Chelsea in recent months.
With a price-tag in excess of £30m, it would certainly be a stunning signing, and considering his influence on the currently table-topping Atletico Madrid in La Liga this season, the 25-year-old Costa would arguably the most promising signing of the lot.
What do you think? Who should Arsenal buy in the summer? Let me know in the comments below…
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