Arsenal Transfer News: Latest on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Odion Ighalo Rumours

Manchester United are reportedly ready to usurp Arsenal in the race for two targeted strikers this summer: Borussia Dortmund’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Watford man Odion Ighalo.

Rob Draper of the Mail on Sunday reported the Red Devils are ready to part with a staggering £70 million for Aubameyang in order to fend off interest from the Gunners, who are said to have “fallen back” in the race for the player.

Additionally, Tom Hopkinson of the Sunday People (h/t the Daily Mirror) stated United have also moved ahead of Arsenal in pursuit of Ighalo despite uncertainty surrounding the club’s manager, Louis van Gaal, at this juncture. It’s said the Hornets value the Nigerian at around £20 million.

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For Gunners boss Arsene Wenger, a new centre-forward is surely one of the main transfer priorities this summer. Here’s how both of the aforementioned players compare to Arsenal’s regular centre-forward, Olivier Giroud, in league matches this season:

	Giroud	Ighalo	Aubameyang
Apps (Sub)	21 (8)	28 (1)	24
Goals	12	14	22
Assists	4	3	4
Shots per game	2.8	3.2	3.8
Key passes per game	0.9	1.2	0.9
Dribbles per game	0.3	1.3	0.5

What both Aubameyang and Ighalo offer that is in short supply at the point of the attack is a blend of rapid pace and brute power.

The former, in particular, has really come to life this term. Aubameyang has long been considered as a rapid, versatile yet often erratic forward player. But under the guidance of Thomas Tuchel, he has developed into one of the top strikers around.

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As Spanish football expert Rafael Hernandez noted during Dortmund’s 0-0 draw with Bayern Munich on Saturday, the 26-year-old is a joy to watch:

At times this season, Ighalo has been too. The Watford man seemed to have no issues taking to life in English football’s top flight following his team’s promotion last season, showcasing a brilliant balance of qualities in a potent partnership with Troy Deeney.

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He too is sharp, superb at holding defenders off and, while not as quick as Aubameyang, has dazzling feet that allow him to create space in tight areas. However, while all these qualities are still prominent, the goals have dried up since the turn of the year, as Opta’s Matt Furniss notes:

"

1 goals from 26 shots in the Premier League for Odion Ighalo so far in 2016...could do with him getting his finishing touch back.

— Matt Furniss (@Matt_Furniss) March 2, 2016"

Still, it’s no surprise to read both Arsenal and United want the duo. For the Gunners, the lack of a striker who can offer so many different skills has hindered their play.

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At times this season, Wenger has had to opt for either the stationary but solid target of Giroud up front or the pace of Theo Walcott, who doesn’t possess the same guile on the ball as the Frenchman. Having a player who can do bits of both would be a major assistance to this team and the versatility with which Arsenal can attack.

As Squawka’s Greg Johnson noted recently, Danny Welbeck can do the job, but he has proved to be unreliable in terms of fitness:

Welbeck isn’t a proven goalscorer, either, which is what Arsenal need. Granted, players who are so capable in so many different areas are not easy to find, but if the Gunners have designs on challenging for the top honours in the game, it’s the kind of forward they need to push on and complement the array of midfield talent at their disposal.

Even so, if United are willing to part with £70 million for Aubameyang, he’s likely not a player the Gunners will go after, as it's very tough to see Wenger parting with that kind of money. Ighalo could be the ideal player, and you can bet the top sides in the Premier League will be monitoring his form closely for the remainder of the campaign.