Arsenal Transfer Rumours: 20 Possible Targets to Replace Robin van Persie

The news of Robin van Persie's decision to reject a new Arsenal contract has spread in the football world like wildfire. Since joining the Gunners in 2004 from Feyenoord, van Persie had become a mainstay with the North London club.

And despite the persistence of the injury bug throughout his career with Arsenal, the well-recognized Dutchman recorded 132 career goals for the club, good for eighth all-time.

But as quickly as the news of van Persie's decision to move on has circulated, the move for the Arsenal front office to replace one of the club's greats may have to come even quicker than expected.

In truth, there may be no immediate replacement for the left-footed goal scorer, rather restoration by committee.

With the transfer window in full swing, here are the top 20 possible targets to replace RVP.

Olivier Giroud

Perhaps the Gunners have already made waves in attempt to replace the kind of work RVP was able to post during his time with the club.

One of Arsenal's top targets this transfer season was an up-and-coming goal-scorer from Montpellier, Oliver Giroud. Does he have the same tools as his Dutch predecessor? No, but then again, Arsene Wenger will be hard-pressed to find a forward who does.

Though Giroud may not retain that complete forward's mentality, the Frenchman's ability to rack up goals is something that cannot be understated.

And at 25 years old, Giroud will have plenty to prove for one of the top clubs in England.

Lukas Podolski

Behind door No. 2 in Arsenal's escapade to replace the Dutch great, the Gunners may have already inked a solid foundation.

Germany's Lukas Podolski is no longer the young, promising forward we saw with Bayern Munich. At 27 years old, the left-footed striker makes his move out of the Bundesliga and into a role with Arsenal that could have him step into similar footing as RVP.

A technical adept, Podolski definitely can demonstrate the qualities that van Persie so effortlessly put on in Arsenal's final third. But, just as RVP played alone atop the Gunner's formation, how will the switch to a more traditional 4-4-2 change how the club can manufacture goals?

Podolski is a proven goal-scorer, but let's see how he handles the creative portion of leading this Arsenal offense.

Theo Walcott

With rumors of Arsenal's interest in Victor Moses swirling, it certainly would put more pressure on speculation that Theo Walcott would skip town or make a move to a more central for distribution, away from the comfort of space on the wing.

Walcott has proven his ability to finish at the net as well as create chances for his teammates, but his consistency is what should generate concern. His offerings are just a fraction of what RVP was able to provide for the Gunners, so perhaps the club already has part of the replacement on payroll.

Daniel Sturridge

In a juicier turn of expectations, Arsenal may very well find an offensive savior on the transfer market.

Chelsea's Daniel Sturridge has been out of favor with the Blues for some time and this possibly cost him a place on England's European Championship roster.

Sturridge is still just 22 years old and is no danger of peaking just yet. Having said that, his form has been anything but consistent over his few seasons of first team play.

Perhaps the most enticing part of acquiring a player like Sturridge is his diversity in both his skill set and position.

Like van Persie, Sturridge can easily move around the final third and be just as effective in the manufacturing of goals. Whether by creation or his own sheer power and speed, Sturridge may provide some forward thinking for Arsenal.

What will his price tag be, though?

Salomon Rondon

A virtual enigma 12 months ago, Salomon Rondon has slowly crept up the boards as a target for the bigger clubs this transfer season.

The Malaga striker, who helped the club reach Champions League football next season, and Venezuelan international is just 22 years old and presents a viable scoring option for those clubs wishing to invest.

He is no master scorer by any means, but he has dropped at least 10 goals in each of his last three seasons (two with Malaga) to lift a heftier price tag to his name.

If Arsenal is serious about looking to a not-so-well-established name, it may have to drop a big check on that account.

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar

Maybe the most intriguing target for the Gunners to look at this summer is Schalke's Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.

The former AC Milan man had less than ample playing time for the Dutch in their disappointing Euro 2012 run, but there is no question that Huntelaar is a proven goal scorer.

With 48 goals in 47 appearances for Schalke last season, Huntelaar showcased his nose for goal. And at 28 years old, the Gunners would have to believe that his reputation for goals will come into fruition should they choose to go his way.

He only cost Schalke €12 million to nab him from Milan, but after the kind of season that Huntelaar posted in 2012, one would have to believe his price tag has increased significantly. 

Clint Dempsey

Clint Dempsey has played beneath the floodlights at Craven Cottage since 2007, while at the same time living below the pressures of the big name club.

After a career season with the Cottagers last year, where Dempsey netted 23 goals in all competitions and 17 in the EPL, the American may be primed for a move that puts him on the bigger stage.

According to the Daily Mirror, Liverpool is close to reaching an agreement with the Texan, placing even more pressure on Arsenal to make a move if it is serious about landing a diverse front man.

Call Dempsey a poor man's van Persie, but the American's creativity and ruggedness are qualities that have pinned him as the most successful MLS player to make the transition to the EPL. 

Robert Lewandowski

After a fantastic showing at the European Championship, Robert Lewandowski has hit the transfer market as one of the hottest targets this summer.

The Polish international posted just nine goals for Borussia Dortmund two seasons ago, but after a 30-goal performance last year, Lewandowski may very well make a move out of the Bundesliga.

Just 23 years old, Lewandowski will have his best years ahead of him as a striker capable of scoring in a multitude of fashions.

His move for Dortmund cost around €4.5 million back in 2010, a price that surely has ballooned since then.

Gonzalo Higuain

Real Madrid's Gonzalo Higuain has seemingly forever been amidst the flurry of transfer rumors coming every window, and this summer is no different.

Strangely enough, with Karim Benzema still garnering some first-team selections, Higuain could still be the odd man out at the Bernabeu.

For the third time in four seasons, the Real Madrid man topped 20 goals, netting 26 in all competitions for Los Blancos.

What may be most enticing for Arsenal is his ability to create goals for others. Higuain has 31 assists in the last four seasons to go along with 92 goals. Consider him to be a final third threat, just like van Persie.

And at 24 years old as a well-established front man, the Argentine will command quite a fee.

Stevan Jovetic

A move that could shake up the front at the Emirates could be Arsenal's alleged pursuit of Fiorentina's Stevan Jovetic (per The Daily Star).

The first thought that comes to mind is that Jovetic is not the prototypical lone striker to have in the final third, rather he plays in a second striker's role that can manufacture goals for himself and others.

After missing the entire 2010-2011 campaign with a right knee injury, the Montenegrin international rebounded with some authority, netting 14 goals in 27 appearances.

It appears to be a longshot that Jovetic could see his way out of the Serie A, and it would definitely be a move that has many Arsenal supporters turning their heads.

Joselu

A relative unknown in the myriad of transfer rumor targets has to be Real Madrid's youngster Joselu, who starred for the club's B squad.

According to the Daily Mail, West Ham appear very keen to ink the the 22-year-old striker. But it can't be out of the realm of possibility for Arsenal to swoop in and file this starlet away for a later date as he did net 26 goals for his side last season.

Realistic? Hardly. Probable? Even less likely. But the scene is set, however skeptical any agreement between the two camps may be.

Demba Ba

In what would be an interesting Premier League coup, Arsenal snatching up Demba Ba from the grips of Newcastle—a club that Ba experienced great success with from day one—could very well be a move that could elevate the Gunners back to title contention.

Ba scored 16 goals in his maiden campaign with the Magpies, and he did so in a multitude of ways. As a goal-finisher in his own right, Ba still lacks the distribution capabilities that RVP provided for the Gunners for years.

Nevertheless, landing the 27-year-old Ba could be a signing that loads up Arsenal's front line for the coming seasons.

Matias Suarez

Tucked away with Anderlecht in the Belgian Pro League, Matias Suarez is a candidate that is far away from a move to the Emirates.

However, his versatility to move around the final third is easily a reason to watch the Argentine in action. Suarez scored 20 goals in all competitions to go with his 19 assists, giving plenty of reasons for the big club to carefully monitor his development.

At 24 years old, Suarez could be just months away from a switch to a monster club. And after Romelu Lukaku left Anderlecht for Chelsea, perhaps Suarez could be the next to depart the Belgian champions.

Alessandro del Piero

According to talkSPORT, long-time Juventus star Alessandro del Piero would welcome the opportunity to play in England.

Although it would be a move that presents no long-term solution to the hole that RVP will leave behind, it is an intriguing prospect nonetheless.

To have a forward with the kind of distribution and eye for goal that del Piero consistently conveys, Arsenal should openly welcome the chance to have the Italian star suit up under the lights at the Emirates.

Realistically, it just doesn't seem plausible that del Piero would leave the comfort of the Serie A.

David Villa

According to Sport.es (h/t Sports World Report) is a prospect of Barcelona and Arsenal swapping strikers, a move that would send RVP to the Camp Nou and bring David Villa to the Emirates.

Now that is out-of-the-box thinking.

But how critically important could a top-class finisher like Villa be to Arsenal's hopes of recapturing hardware and slinging to the top of the tables in England?

It may not be the most realistic of swap deals—it's not like Barcelona have a history of clever swap deals—but it would be an agreement that could very much rewrite the predictions for the upcoming Premier League season.

Edin Dzeko

A highly-priced name that has popped up on some radars this season is Manchester City's Edin Dzeko.

The Bosnian did well to score 10 goals through the first three months of the Premier League season last year, but managed just four the rest of the way.

It is no secret that the front line for City is crowded, with Sergio Aguero, Mario Balotelli and Carlos Tevez all earning huge wages that are definitely merited. With that in mind, Dzeko could be on the way out of Manchester just as quickly as he arrived.

Arsenal seemingly has no interest in Dzeko, but his imposing presence in the box and nose for goal could provide a contingency plan should the club's initial hopes fall through. 

Edinson Cavani

Napoli's Edinson Cavani surely will cost a pretty penny for whomever wants to fork up the cash to ink the talented goal-scorer.

However unrealistic a move to Arsenal might be—a move to Manchester City seems more likely—Cavani is the type of multi-layered offensive threat that could revitalize any attacking front on any club.

As part of a trio (now dismantled) with Marek Hamsik and Ezequiel Lavezzi, Cavani looked threatening virtually every time he touched the ball. But could the Gunners play to his up-tempo style that generates more chances? Even so, his price tag will likely end up being an amount that will force many clubs to say "thanks, but no thanks."

Fernando Llorente

In another episode of strikers who are excellently qualified and excruciatingly expensive, Fernando Llorente is a transfer target who could make a move to a big club and immediately make a splash.

Though many expected the Spaniard to feature up front in the European Championship, Llorente never saw the pitch. And at 27 years old coming off a 29-goal season in all competitions for Athletic Bilbao, Llorente looks just as ready as ever to make the switch to a top club.

But much like the case with Cavani, a price tag of well over £30 million will dissuade many, the Gunners included (per The Sun).

Roberto Soldado

After consecutive seasons with at least 25 goals for Valencia, in which it took third place both times, Roberto Soldado may be on the way out.

A composed and clinical finisher, Soldado presents a solid front for the pass-happy Gunners to feed as they look to reclaim position and contend for an EPL crown next season.

After Valencia unloaded the likes of David Villa and David Silva two seasons ago, the potential departure of Soldado could leave the club in very dire straits.

Adrian Lopez

In what would be a relatively inexpensive and low-key maneuver to restock the attacking lines at the Emirates, a move for Athletico Madrid's Adrian Lopez would inject a bit of creativity and crispness before the final ball.

Van Persie effortlessly made the hard look routine, and with the passing technique and wit that Adrian commands on the pitch, he could easily find a new home for the Gunners.

The Metro reports Arsenal are preparing a bid of £10 million, which is mountains below some £30 and £40 million tags mentioned before, but securing talent is no cheap investment.