Arsenal Transfer News: Latest on Edinson Cavani and Top Stars Eyed by Gunners
Arsenal's rather fanciful pursuit of Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani could be gaining weight. Apparently, the Ligue 1 giants have already decided who would replace the former Napoli sensation.
The player PSG boss Laurent Blanc wants is Real Madrid's Karim Benzema, a move that would clear the way for Cavani to bolt to north London, according to Daily Express reporter David Wright:
"Cavani is destined to leave in January, with recent reports suggesting he remains unsettled at PSG.
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The 27-year-old has attracted interest from Premier League pair Arsenal and Manchester United, with the Gunners in pole position as he'd reportedly prefer to live in London.
And now it appears the Ligue 1 champions are planning for life without Cavani after turning their attention to Benzema.
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If all of this sounds a little bit pie in the sky, it probably should. It's not so much the idea of Benzema leaving Madrid for Paris, either.
The French centre-forward always seems to be tipped to leave the Spanish capital. The latest scenario involves Benzema following Gareth Bale through the exit door.
Their departures are supposed to help Los Blancos sign Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero and Borussia Dortmund forward Marco Reus, per Daily Star reporter Bruce Archer.
Lower that eyebrow at once.
That report isn't even the most outlandish thing about this rumour. That distinction must surely belong to the idea of Gunners boss Arsene Wenger adding yet another striker to his already dangerously unbalanced squad.
Options in attack isn't Wenger's problem. He recently indicated as much during his press conference ahead of facing Newcastle United, per Arsenal.com reporter Max Jones:
"We have injuries in midfield and at the back but up front we have all the players available so I can rotate a little bit game by game.
...
You always have to be ready when you can help the team and the club. I cannot play all of the forwards so I have to make decisions.
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Arsenal are indeed well-stocked along the forward line. Olivier Giroud, Danny Welbeck, Yaya Sanogo, Alexis Sanchez and even Lukas Podolski can all play through the middle.
That's why, as talented as Cavani is, you shouldn't count on Wenger making a move.
For the same reason, it's equally unlikely that the Gunners will target Alessio Cerci. The gifted Italian winger, currently languishing on the bench at Atletico Madrid, has been heavily linked with Arsenal in recent weeks.
AS reporter F.J. Diaz recently suggested that the Gunners will move for Cerci this winter. However, some cold water has since been poured on this rumour by Spanish outlet Fichajes (h/t Inside Futbol):
"Atletico Madrid will only allow Italy winger Alessio Cerci to leave the Vicente Calderon next month if they can lay their hands on Bayern Munich's Xherdan Sahqiri.
Cerci, who has recently been linked with Arsenal, while Inter are also keen, joined Atletico Madrid earlier this year from Italian outfit Torino.
He has struggled to make his mark in Spanish football however and is now being linked with a quick exit.
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Atletico's plans aside, the real reason to doubt any proposed move for Cerci is because Arsenal currently have a plethora of wide forwards. Podolski, Sanchez, Theo Walcott, Serge Gnabry and Joel Campbell can all fill berths on the flanks.
The latter received a rare start in Arsenal's recent 4-1 away win over Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League. While he didn't exactly impress, the 22-year-old Costa Rica international remains determined to make the grade in north London, per another article from Jones:
"I always try and take advantage of the chances that come my way and play as well as I can. I know that I can give more, so I’m working hard day in, day out to improve as a player.
...
In a team like Arsenal, it’s easier to play well because you’re surrounded by good players. I just try to do the best I can so that I might be involved in future games.
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The Gunners don't need any more wingers-cum-strikers. Instead, Wenger must deal with dwindling numbers in midfield and at the back.
The former concern could be partly eased by the potentially imminent arrival of talented Polish teenager Krystian Bielik. The 16-year-old could be set to join Arsenal this January, per Polish publication PS (h/t Sport Witness):
"The Polish press report that the young player's family have already been shown around the London club's training facilities, and Arsenal have tried to assure them that they are the best place for their son and that a January transfer would be a wonderful chance for him and his future.
That trip has already happened, and on Boxing Day, the Bielik family will be invited back once more to watch the QPR match as guests of Arsenal and, the club hope, put the final touches to a contract for the player.
PS in Poland says that Arsenal have now made their offer. It's said to be less than 2 million. That's been reported as both Euro and Polish Zloty, either way it's not an awful lot in relative terms.
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The idea of yet another prospect joining the club may anger some Arsenal fans. Sections of the club's support will no doubt believe more immediate help is required, the kind of assistance only marquee reinforcements can provide.
That's not an unreasonable viewpoint. However, there's no harm in the Gunners acquiring a bright young talent who could be developed into a star of the future.
Polish football has experienced a sight upturn in recent seasons. Proof of progress was offered when Legia Warsaw thumped Celtic at the qualifying stage of the UEFA Champions League. Only fielding an ineligble player denied Legia entry into Europe's premier club competition.
The national team enjoyed better luck when it bested World Cup holders Germany, 2-0, in a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifier.
As a rising star in this context, Arsenal's interest in Bielik is justified. He's even drawn comparisons to legendary Gunners colossus Patrick Vieira, one of Wenger's greatest signings, per Metro writer Lee Hurley:
"It’s not often a player is called the Polish Patrick Vieira, but this one has been. Described by his current manager as ‘quite creative, technically well-prepared and very promising’ he stands 6’2” tall.
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That's high praise indeed. But it does at least offer a hint that Bielik is a different type of midfielder than Wenger has targeted in recent seasons. He possesses a more obviously combative streak and greater physicality.
Whatever the type, the Gunners need extra midfielders. Arsenal are currently missing Abou Diaby, Tomas Rosicky, Mikel Arteta, Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil through injury.
That's a staggering amount of players absent from the team's engine room. It's what's prompted Wenger to recall young French defensive midfielder Francis Coquelin from his loan spell with Charlton Athletic, per CAFC.co.uk writer Iain Liddle.
Adding another player to the midfield ranks in January, even one with plenty of growing and learning still to do, certainly won't do any harm.
Forget strikers, Wenger's real priority, aside from tinkering in midfield, should be bolstering his defensive options. Equipping his squad with only three first-choice centre-backs has haunted Wenger and the Gunners so far this season.
Injuries and suspensions have led to a host mismatched combinations at the back. Right-back Mathieu Debuchy is the latest player to be thrust into the middle as cover, per David Hytner of The Guardian.
Wenger recently addressed the need for potential additions for his defence in January in quotes that have been widely misinterpreted, per Arsenal.com:
"If everybody is fit and available, we don't need to go on the transfer market. But we have to consider that there could be a question mark with Koscielny's fitness and we have to go out on the transfer market.
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The Gunners have already been heavily linked with Celtic's Virgil van Dijk, per Daily Mail reporter Sami Mokbel. B/R's Arsenal correspondent James McNicholas recently discussed the merits of acquiring the Dutch defender:
Links to centre-backs and full-backs are the ones most worthy of your attention during the next two months. Be wary of suggestions that Arsenal will sign yet another forward.
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