Ivorian international would consider an Emirates move a dream one but will Arsene Wenger make it a reality this summer?

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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is reportedly pondering a summer move for Lacina Traore.

The Ivorian striker has been a long time target at the Emirates, and now Arsenal are thought to be considering a bid for the striker dubbed ‘the new Adebayor’.

The CFR Cluj striker was heavily linked with a switch to north London in January, but the move failed to materialise and Wenger stuck with his injury-hit strike-force.

The delay has seen other clubs join in the race to sign the 19-year-old talent, with PSV Eindhoven and Udinese also making enquiries about the 6ft 8in forward.

A possible move to the Gunners excites the player greatly though, and Traore has previously said: “It is sensational to hear that Arsene Wenger is watching me and it would be a dream to play in such a great team as Arsenal.”

Scouts have been monitoring his progress in Romania, and Gilles Grimandi has visited Dr. Constantin R?dulescu stadium to watch Traore in action for the current Liga 1 leaders.

The fresh news of a possible summer move comes after the player’s representative, Marc-Andre Kriegl, spoke to Sport.co.uk.

“Udinese and PSV Eindhoven made late enquiries to try and sign him in the transfer window, but nothing came of their advances,” said Kriegl.

“Arsenal came to watch him at the training camp in Turkey during the winter break and they told us they are interested and still very much like him, and that they will follow him closely until the summer and make a decision then.”

Issues with gaining a work permit could yet prove to be a stumbling block if the Gunners decide to move for the player, but Arsenal have got round such issues before with the signing of Carlos Vela.

A final decision would rest on the shoulders of Wenger, who has a proven track record of developing young talent into Premier League stars. With a lack of power and strength in the forward positions, Traore would seem like a good fit for Arsenal and a move could come when the window re-opens. (Give Me Football – Official PFA Website)

Ask any Arsenal fan what the club most lack right now in their current list of available players and they will shout in unison “a fit striker”. The injury crisis at the Emirates has dealt the north London side a hefty blow in their hopes of clinching a Premier League crown. The Gunners put together a good run of results and found themselves within reach of their arch rivals Chelsea and Manchester United but then found themselves having to go up against both Premier League hopefuls minus a strikeforce, the result, two lost games.

The club does of course have a range of very good to pretty decent options to pick from if they had no such injury worries. Robin Van Persie on his day is unplayable and one of the best strikers around when he is fit and brimming with confidence. Eduardo is also a top notch player and a lethal finisher but is also experiencing some persistent problems getting himself fully fit. Nicklas Bendtner actually started the season pretty well, playing on occasion out wide and proving that he has good ability on the deck but the Dane is also dealing with some niggly problems.

This has led to Arsene Wenger having to play players out of position and as a result a myriad of strikers have been linked with a move to the Emirates and one such forward is Lacina Traore who appears to have an admirer in the Arsenal boss. Would such a signing be one that would excite the club’s fans? Probably not, but they would no doubt trust that Wenger is the type of manager who knows exactly what he is doing when it comes to picking up relatively unknown players and turning them into household names and perhaps the £8m rated Ivorian youngster could be the next in a long line of Arsenal success stories?

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