Arsenal Transfer Rumors: Gunners Must Steer Clear of Manchester United's Nani

There is no question that Arsenal needs to make some improvements this offseason in order to compete with Manchester United for the EPL title next season, but taking problematic winger Nani off the Red Devils' hands simply isn't the answer.

According to ESPN.com, the Gunners are considering a £15 million bid for Nani in an effort to improve their inconsistent attack. Hoping an inconsistent player will do that is a bit presumptuous on Arsenal's part, however.

There is no question that the 26-year-old Portuguese national possesses a great deal of skill, but he has failed to put it all together over the course of his senior career. Nani scored just nine goals in 58 appearances for Sporting CP and he hasn't fared much better with Man U since 2007, as he has accumulated 26 goals in 133 appearances.

Nani took a big step back in 2012-13, appearing in only 17 matches for the Red Devils and netting a mere three goals. Despite the fact that longtime Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson seemed to go to bat for Nani quite often, he was not utilized consistently this past season.

Now that David Moyes is replacing Ferguson, however, Nani doesn't have many supporters left. A transfer seems like a near certainty for Nani. It remains to be seen if he will go to Arsenal, but Arsene Wenger's club appears to be very much in the running if nothing else.

Arsenal has also been linked to the likes of Gonzalo Higuain, Wayne Rooney and Stevan Jovetic, according to Bill Mann of MSN, so the Gunners certainly seem to have options.

According to Yahoo! Football UK, Arsenal is unlikely to land Jovetic or Rooney but is actively pursuing Higuain currently.

That doesn't guarantee Arsenal anything, but Higuain would be a much better option than Nani. It would almost certainly cost more, but it's better to get a proven player like Higuain than to speculate on what Nani can ultimately become if he puts everything together.

It's entirely possible that Nani will never reach his full potential due to his volatility. It's impossible to know what to expect from Nani in any given match, and Arsenal doesn't need that type of uncertainty.

If Nani couldn't nail down a permanent starting spot with Manchester United, it's certainly possible that he won't be able to do it at Emirates Stadium either.

While £15 million is fairly cheap compared to some of the transfer fees that are sure to be exchanged this offseason, there is a reason why Nani is being offered up at a somewhat reduced price. He is a huge risk and Arsenal can't afford to take that risk if it wants to contend for a title next season.

Also, coughing up £15 million to a bitter rival would make the move even worse if Nani ultimately doesn't work out. Nani simply isn't worth the headache for the Gunners at this point, and Wenger would be much better off chasing an established talent like Higuain, even if it will cost more in the long run.

Paying for production rather than potential is always advisable, and Nani offers little more than brief flashes of greatness. He hasn't proven capable of thriving in the EPL yet and there is no reason to believe that he'll flip the switch with Arsenal.

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