Arsenal Must Be Bold and Not Baulk at Swansea's Michu Valuation

The meteoric rise of Michu shows no signs of slowing any time soon, with the Swansea forward being rewarded for his superb Premier League form with a call up to the Spain national side, as per BBC Sport.

Such a move should add a pound or two to his valuation, and on Tuesday, Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins backed up manager Michael Laudrup’s claims from last season that Michu was worth £30 million.

Speaking to the Mail’s Riath Al-Samarrai, Jenkins said:

"

We’ve seen with Tottenham and Gareth Bale that every player has a price. We are not in that bracket with Tottenham but they sold a top player. We are realistic about that side of things.

I would say Michael was about right with his valuation of Michu if you look at the current market, but this call up enhances that further.

We know we have a very talented player and naturally we want to keep him.

"

Given the forward’s exploits since making the move from Rayo Vallecano in 2012—he netted 22 goals in all competitions last season—it is tough to disagree with Jenkins’ assessment:

"

Swansea City fans - Michu in a Spain shirt. A long overdue sight. #SwansFC pic.twitter.com/JcQNe8U8Co

— Football__Tweet (@Football__Tweet) October 8, 2013"

What is strange is that Jenkins would put in the public domain the sort of money it would take to tempt them into selling Michu.

As reported by ESPN, per quotes from the Mail, Arsenal and Liverpool are rumoured to be keeping tabs on the Spanish forward.

Liverpool’s need for a striker is not a pressing one, with Luis Suarez having returned from suspension to play alongside the ever-improving Daniel Sturridge.

For Arsenal, though, the summer transfer window was one of frustration as far as signing a striker was concerned.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger failed in his attempts to lure Suarez to North London, while he also missed out on Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney.

Despite missing out on boosting his attacking ranks, Wenger did get his hands on a prized asset in Mesut Ozil. The Germany international has settled in superbly following his move from Real Madrid, while his arrival has coincided with Aaron Ramsey taking his form to a higher level.

Arsenal are top of the Premier League with 16 points from seven games, leaving them well placed to press on following the international break.

The fear for Arsenal is that striker Olivier Giroud either picks up an injury, or the goals—he has four in the Premier League to his name—dry up.

The Frenchman did not convince everyone in his first season in the Premier League last term, but he has won over his critics this season. Not only has he been a regular scorer, he has been a powerful and composed presence at the head of Arsenal’s attacking line.

Giroud cannot be expected to fire on all cylinders for the whole of the season. A second striker is needed, and Michu fits the bill.

In his first season with Swansea, a side who play the slick, passing football favoured by Wenger, Michu proved himself comfortable operating as a lone striker supported by runners from midfield, or alongside a target man to feed off.

Being comfortable in a number of roles—Michu actually began his career as a central midfielder—increases his appeal to Wenger as it would allow him to rotate Michu and Giroud, while also deploying them as a pair.

The early weeks of the Premier League season have shown that the title race is a wide-open affair.

If Arsenal have designs on breaking their barren run in the league, they need to make a big play in January.

Jenkins’ comments have shown Swansea’s hand; Wenger has to be bold and follow up his summer splurge on Ozil with a January swoop for Michu.