Five other options upfront for the Gunners.
With reports that Arsenal are set to lose out to rivals Liverpool for the signing of Queens Park Rangers striker Loic Remy, CaughtOffside looks at five other players that could come in upfront, based on recent transfer rumours.
Arsene Wenger is known to be keen on bringing in a good alternative to Olivier Giroud to spearhead his side’s attack next season, after the Gunners found themselves overly reliant on the inconsistent Frenchman in 2013/14.
Remy had looked like being one of the most realistic targets, available for a good price, but it seems that the club could not agree on a contract for the player, whose wage demands were too high.
Alexis Sanchez has already been brought in to the Emirates Stadium, arriving in a £32m deal from Barcelona, but it seems likely that Wenger will try to bring in a more out-and-out striker, with Sanchez possibly set to feature on the wing for Arsenal. See below for five options the club may now be considering as an alternative to Remy.
5) Salomon Kalou (Lille)
A former Chelsea player, Salomon Kalou has surprisingly been linked with Arsenal on a number of occasions since leaving Stamford Bridge for a move to Ligue 1. The Ivory Coast international has been in good form for Lille over the last two seasons, scoring 34 goals and weighing in with 11 assists in 77 appearances. The 28-year-old never exactly hit the ground running during his time with Chelsea, but is said to be keen on a move back to the Premier League in the near future, with the likes of Everton also reportedly tracking him. Still, with Arsenal in need of a good alternative to Giroud, Kalou’s pace upfront could give the Gunners something a little different in that position, as well as more depth in what has proven to be an injury-prone squad in recent times.
4) Alexandre Lacazette (Lyon)
An exciting talent emerging in France, Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette enjoyed a superb breakthrough season last year, scoring 23 goals and providing seven assists in all competitions for his club. The 23-year-old narrowly missed out on a place in France’s World Cup squad and will surely be an international star in the future. His fine form has already attracted interest from Arsenal in recent months, while Liverpool are also believed to be among his admirers. Still, with the Reds now opting to sign Remy, it could be a good chance for Arsene Wenger to make a move for another top player from his native France. Capable of playing out wide as well, Lacazette would no doubt add a new dimension to Arsenal’s play next season.
3) Wilfried Bony (Swansea City)
Another former target for Liverpool whom they will now presumably be cooling their interest in, Swansea City striker Wilfried Bony could be a great solution to Arsenal’s problems upfront. The powerful Ivory Coast forward enjoyed a highly impressive first season in the Premier League, scoring 25 goals in all competitions and settling in quickly to the pace of the game on these shores. A prolific scorer whilst in the Eredivisie as well, Bony has surely proven himself now as a player capable of making the step up to a bigger club, and Arsenal would certainly be wise to move for him now if he is available for around £20m, as has been reported – a potential bargain in the making for the north London giants.
2) Jackson Martinez (Porto)
After 60 goals in 91 appearances over two seasons with Porto, as well as some fine form for the Colombian national side, Jackson Martinez has emerged as a top target for a number of big-name European sides in recent times. The 27-year-old certainly looks like a player who could make the step up to a more competitive league, and his superb composure and technique in front of goal look like making him an excellent signing for Arsenal, who are rumoured to be one of his many admirers. It has also been claimed that Martinez himself would favour a move to Arsenal over other interested clubs, and although he won’t come cheap, it looks like a no-brainer that Wenger should try and pull this deal through in his search for an alternative to Loic Remy.
1) Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli)
A top target for Arsenal last summer whilst he was still with Real Madrid, it has been suggested that the Gunners could rekindle their interest in Argentine hot-shot Gonzalo Higuain this summer. The likes of Barcelona and Chelsea have also been linked with the Napoli striker, who, despite something of a nightmare in the World Cup final for Argentina this summer, has proven himself to be one of the best attacking players in the world in recent years, finding himself unlucky to be shown the door at Real Madrid. Napoli will no doubt be desperate to hold on to such an important player, but Arsenal would be wise to pay the big money required to sign the prolific 26-year-old, who had an impressive record of 24 goals and 11 assists last season.