5 Alternatives to Jamie Vardy for Arsenal to Target in This Transfer Window

It looks as if Arsenal may have to go back to the drawing board in the search for a new striker.

They have lodged a bid for Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy, but James Olley of the Evening Standard reported on Friday that the England forward has told his international team-mates he is “80 percent” likely to remain at the King Power Stadium.

Even if Arsenal do not land Vardy, they still need a new centre-forward. Neither Olivier Giroud nor Theo Walcott was particularly convincing last season, and Danny Welbeck is set to miss the majority of 2016/17 with another cartilage problem.

In this piece, we identify possible alternatives to Vardy if Arsene Wenger is forced to change his transfer plans.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

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Part of the appeal of Jamie Vardy is his £20 million release clause would enable Arsenal to capture him for a relatively modest sum. However, if the Gunners are prepared to push the boat out to land a new forward, they might consider Borussia Dortmund’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

The Gabon international was the Bundesliga’s second-top goalscorer (25 goals) in 2015/16, finishing behind only Robert Lewandowski (30) in the rankings.

Aubameyang is as quick as Vardy and, at 26, is three years younger too. That would make him much more expensive, especially with significant competition for his signature—according to Sky Sports News HQ, Manchester City have already held talks about bringing him to the Etihad Stadium.

If Arsenal were to move for Aubameyang, it could wipe out the remainder of their transfer budget. However, it would also land them an extraordinarily gifted forward who could not only improve the team immediately but continue to play a major part over the next five years.

Alexandre Lacazette

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Arsene Wenger has an outstanding track record of working with French forwards. The likes of Nicolas Anelka, Thierry Henry, Sylvain Wiltord and Olivier Giroud have all prospered under his tutelage. If the bid for Vardy falls through, Alexandre Lacazette could be the next in line.

According to John Cross of the Mirror, rivals Tottenham Hotspur have already held talks about a £30 million move from Olympique Lyonnais to London. However, with Spurs having seemingly turned their attention to Dutchman Vincent Janssen, per Lyall Thomas of Sky Sports, Arsenal may have a free run at Lacazette.

Like Vardy, Lacazette is a mobile centre-forward who would bring variety and unpredictability to the Arsenal attack. One of his greatest gifts is his two-footedness—the France international appears to be equally capable finishing with either his left or right foot.

His reputation has built steadily over the last few years, and there can be no doubt Wenger has been aware of his development. That raises a question about why Arsenal haven’t moved for him before. Perhaps Wenger has some reservations about Lacazette’s all-around game. However, having only just turned 25, there is still time for him to improve.

Alvaro Morata

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Euro 2016 could be the stage on which Alvaro Morata breaks out as a true international star. The Juventus striker has a genuine chance of being Spain’s starting centre-forward, and a good tournament could see his reputation skyrocket.

That could land him a big move in this transfer window. Real Madrid have a buy-back clause they could exercise, with whispers suggesting they might bring Morata back to the Santiago Bernabeu to sell him on for a significant profit.

According to the Sun, new Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho is looking to see off interest from both Arsenal and Chelsea to take Morata to Old Trafford.

Morata certainly seems interested in the prospect of moving to England. He recently told Spanish daily AS (h/t the Telegraph): "Next year I will play in the team that I have the most opportunities in. There are some offers from England that are tempting, not only because of the contract. I think that for my style of play, the Premier League would be a great place to go."

Looking at his core attributes, Morata seems ideally suited to English football. He’s tall and powerful but far quicker than Olivier Giroud. His technique is excellent, and he would integrate into Arsenal’s intricate approach play.

The one concern is he has never been particularly prolific. A successful Euros with a few goals under his belt could be what’s required to convince his suitors he’s worth the gamble.

Romelu Lukaku

Geert Vanden Wijngaert/Associated Press

Part of the reason Arsene Wenger might have chosen to target Vardy is that he’s a proven Premier League performer.

The same could be said of Romelu Lukaku. Last season, the Belgian scored the most goals by an Everton player in any Premier League season (18). At 23, he has already become one of the most reliable and regular goalscorers in the country. Perhaps most intriguingly of all, he is still young enough to get even better.

Wenger is certainly well aware of his ability. Speaking at a press conference ahead of Arsenal's trip to face the Toffees in March, he admitted he tried to sign Lukaku when he was just a teenager: 

"

Yes, we knew him from Belgium, but he went to Chelsea. He’s developing well. Year after year he's better. His finishing his better, technical link up play is better.

He is promising a big career. It's always a sign when the numbers are better year after year. He went out on loan to Everton and I did expect him to go back to Chelsea. After that, we were never on the case.

"

Now might be the time for Wenger to reignite his interest in the powerful frontman.

The problem Arsenal might have is convincing Everton to part with their star man. The Toffees are under new ownership from former Arsenal investor Farhad Moshiri and are about to start their new era by appointing Southampton boss Ronald Koeman, according to BBC Sport. Losing Lukaku would be a major blow at this delicate stage in the club's history, so they will fight tooth and nail to keep him.

Michy Batshuayi

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Alongside Lukaku, there is another Belgian forward who might just have caught Arsene Wenger’s eye: Olympique Marseille’s Michy Batshuayi.

According to WhoScored.com, the 22-year-old bagged 24 goals for the French side in all competitions last season. His powerful frame is reminiscent of another forward who successfully transitioned from Marseille to London: former Chelsea man Didier Drogba.

If Arsenal do opt to bid for Batshuayi, it sounds as if he’d welcome the interest. Speaking to RTBF (h/t Kristof Terreur for Sky Sports) while with Standard Liege in 2014, he said: "If you ask my favourite team, I'll say Arsenal. It is a club with a good philosophy, where youngsters get their chance. I've been an Arsenal fan since I was a kid."

Batshuayi has never played Champions League football, but it only seems a matter of time until he is gracing that competition with his presence.