5 Strikers Arsenal Should Be Targeting in January Transfer Window
It's January, and Arsenalย need one more key playerโsound familiar?
This time, Arsene Wenger might actually feel compelled to remedy the problem. With Nicklas Bendtner out for several weeks, Theo Walcott out for several months and only Olivier Giroud there to fill the void, Wenger needs to act to solidify a crucial position as the club cling to a one-point lead atop the Premier League table.
Let's look at five strikers Wenger should look to purchase.ย
Alvaro Morata
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Alvaro Morata's name has been floating around the rumor mill due to the lack of playing time he has received at Real Madrid relative to his talent.
Earlier this week, theย Mirror again linked Morata with Arsenal, citing Wenger's renewed commitment to the value of spending money on good players and the striker's presumed availability.
The problem, of course, would be committing to signing Morata to a long-term contract, but it's not as if Arsenal have anyone other than Olivier Giroud to compete for the position on a full-time basis.
Sooner or later, they will have to sign someone.ย
Michy Batshuayi
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Signing Michy Batshuayi would involve some risk. He is still young, is not the finished article and has no experience in an elite European league.
Batshuayi has been on fire this season, though, which is why his name has cropped up in so many transfer rumor stories lately.
At the age of 20, he has scored 14 goals in 21 appearances for Standard Liege in the Belgian Pro League, according to the club'sย official website.
Diego Costa
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Diego Costa has been in excellent form this season, scoring 19 goals for Atletico Madrid and keeping them level on points with Barcelona, who are only leading La Liga on goal difference.
According to Sami Mokbel of the Daily Mail, Arsenal could well be willing to shell out over ยฃ30 million for Costa, which seems a bit insane considering the price they paid for Mesut Ozil only a few months ago.
He would give Arsenal a massive mental and footballing boost, but Arsene Wenger would almost certainly not splash the cash on a short-term solution.ย
Dimitar Berbatov
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Dimitar Berbatovย wants out of struggling Fulham, per the Daily Mail's Mokbel. What's more, he is arguably the goal-poaching forward that would boost an Arsenal side that needs to finish its fluid attacking moves.
However, Arsene Wenger has taken one of the most believable rumors to crop up during this transfer window and doused it with a fire extinguisher.
Hopefully Wenger is simply bluffing so as not to reduce his negotiating position. If Berbatov is available for a reasonable price, the Gunners would be wise to pounce and use him for a few months.ย
Mario Mandzukic
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While Mario Mandzukic would arguably be an ideal signing, it is unlikely that Bayern Munich will sell their starting striker.
In any case, the Croat is still worth a serious look. He is a physical powerhouse, which is not often seen in strikers. That makes him perfect for the lone striker role that Arsene Wenger employs, and which Olivier Giroud has been criticized for not playing well enough in.
Mandzukic's transfer fee would be money well spent, but it would be a lot of money. If Arsenal don't have a look, though, they might miss out on a Mesut Ozil-type opportunity.
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