Arsenal Transfer News: Edinson Cavani to Force PSG's Hand, Mattia Destro Latest

Arsenal supporters unfortunate to be in attendance at the Britannia Stadium to see their team’s abject first-half display against Stoke City will have been bemoaning their team's drastic lack of defensive cohesion. But it seems Arsene Wenger’s January priorities could well see him bolster his attacking options first and foremost.

According to Ben Jefferson of the Daily Express, Edinson Cavani is hoping to force through a move to Arsenal by asking Paris Saint-Germain to lower their £50 million valuation. Here’s the kind of attributes the Uruguayan forward could potentially bring to the Emirates:

Jefferson’s piece claims reports in the Spanish press have insisted Cavani is privy to a move to London, and he is reportedly excited at linking up with both Wenger and Chilean sensation Alexis Sanchez. 

The former Napoli man has notched seven goals in 16 Ligue 1 appearances this season, per WhoScored.com, and he has shone as a centre-forward with Zlatan Ibrahimovic missing much of the current campaign because of injury. Nonetheless, Bleacher Report’s French football expert Andrew Gibney remains unsure about the calibre of the PSG man:

At Arsenal, he’d make a major impact, though. Cavani’s clever movement, intelligent utilisation of the ball and unyielding work rate would give this Gunners team a refreshing edge at the sharp end of the pitch. While the Uruguayan may be occasionally a little profligate in front of goal, he’s undeniably a class above the likes of Danny Welbeck and Olivier Giroud.

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

It’s difficult to see Wenger parting with a sum of £50 million to land a player, however, especially in the midseason window. Cavani’s wages—likely to be astronomical—could also pose a problem for the Gunners if they were serious about striking a deal for the player.

With that in mind and with the Arsenal boss seemingly intent on adding a striker to his squad, perhaps AS Roma’s Mattia Destro is a more realistic target.

According to The Sun (h/t Vaishali Bhardwaj of Metro), representatives for the Italian forward will head to London this week to continue negotiations about a move to the Emirates. Bhardwaj claims Destro could cost up to £20 million and also quotes the player, who has admitted he is flattered by the interest from the Gunners: “Arsenal for me? The rumours are good, I’m happy for them. This is the proof that I’m doing my work well.”

Here’s how Destro and Cavani have fared domestically compared to Arsenal’s current centre-forward options:

	Cavani	Destro	Welbeck	Giroud
Apps (Sub)	14 (2)	7 (5)	11 (1)	2 (4)
Goals	7	4	3	2
Assists	0	0	2	0
Shots per Game	3.4	1.6	3.3	2.5
Key Passes per Gam	0.4	0.3	1.8	0.8

Of the aforementioned reported targets, a move for Destro seems to be the most likely for the Gunners. Not only would he come at much less of a premium but the 23-year-old is younger and will have a much greater resale value should Arsenal decide to cash in further down the line. His adaptable and intricate playing style would make him a great fit at the Emirates, too.

Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images

The Italian seems keen on a move, and it looks as though recent speculation may have distracted him. In Roma’s recent disappointing 2-2 draw with Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico, Destro had a torrid evening, as noted here by football writer blogistuta:

Destro is a player who has the potential to go on and become a world-class centre forward, but if Arsenal are to spend £20 million on a striker, it’s vital that Wenger bolsters the defensive areas of this team, too. The French boss has always been one to indulge in attacking football, but to leave the defence unaddressed at the expense of another striker would be plain gluttonous.

A balanced squad is critical to the success of any side looking to challenge for major honours, and already, this Arsenal crop harbours an obvious attacking bias. Cavani and Destro would be fine additions to the Gunners’ attacking options, but Wenger’s first port of call must be to shore up the defensive side of this team and prevent supporters from sampling further embarrassing episodes, like the Stoke game.