Arsenal to strengthen attacking options in next transfer window.
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Arsenal are keen to go into the market for a striker again this January after being frustrated at missing out on the loan signing of Demba Ba late on yesterday, CaughtOffside understands.
The Gunners were believed to be making progress on a deal to sign Ba from Chelsea for the 2013/14 season, though upon hearing of their signing of Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid, the Blues pulled out as they were keen to avoid strengthening a potential title rival even further.
Whilst Arsenal fans will be delighted with the signing of Ozil, who moves to the Emirates Stadium in a club-record £42m deal, many have pointed out that the club lack a quality alternative to current first-choice striker Olivier Giroud.
Giroud has started the season in fine form, scoring four goals in his first five games, but a ten-week injury to Lukas Podolski leaves Arsenal short of backup if the Frenchman were to get injured as well.
Winger Theo Walcott is also capable of playing as a striker, but Ba would have been an ideal signing by Arsene Wenger to aid his attacking problems on the cheap, though he has not given up on reinforcing this area of his squad this season.
It is now understood that Arsenal could make a big-money move for Galatasaray striker Burak Yilmaz, after it emerged late last night that his proposed move to Lazio had fallen through. Arsenal have been linked as admirers of his for much of this summer, and may now revive their interest in him upon finding out that he is available again.
The Turkish international was in fine form for Galatasaray last season, scoring 32 goals in 39 games in all competitions, catching the eye in the Champions League in particular. This has also seen the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea show an interest in him, though Arsenal’s need for a striker is greater at this moment.
Wenger tried and failed with other striker targets this summer, missing out on big names like Gonzalo Higuain, Luis Suarez and Michu, and Yilmaz now looks the best available option after Chelsea ruled out allowing Ba to move to the north Londoners.
Galatasaray have done well to keep their key players this summer, after revealing today that they rejected an offer from Manchester United for midfield playmaker Wesley Sneijder two weeks before the close of the transfer window.