Arsenal Transfer News: Olivier Giroud Approached by Wolfsburg, Latest Rumours

Wolfsburg and Juventus are reportedly eyeing a move for Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud, while Leicester City have identified Gunners target William Carvalho as a potential target should N’Golo Kante leave the club.

According to Foot Mercato (h/t Get French Football News), Wolfsburg have already made their approach to Giroud, who is expected to hold off on a decision until the time is right:

The 29-year-old striker has been with Arsenal since 2012, but his time in north London has always been rocky. Giroud is a streaky forward who will look fantastic for a stretch of matches only to disappoint in the following contests. And unfortunately for the Frenchman, his dips in form always come at the most inopportune times.

As shared by Bleacher Report UK, Arsenal could have used his scoring ability in the second half of the ongoing campaign, around the same time their Premier League title campaign fell to bits:

According to WhoScored.com, he has scored 12 Premier League goals so far this season, the fewest since his debut campaign in England. He has never scored more than 16 in a single season.

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

Giroud is a useful striker who has come up big in the past for the Gunners. Earlier this season, he was hailed as a hero by Arsenal fans for keeping the club’s UEFA Champions League bid alive when he led the team to a win over Bayern Munich.

But that was in October, and after the team’s collapse in the title race, that seems ever so long ago. Fans, pundits and bloggers all seem to be taking shots at the France international these days, including YankeeGunner and Bleacher Report UK’s James McNicholas:

Giroud could be a casualty of the disappointing 2015-16 campaign during the summer transfer window, providing the right offer comes along. Arsenal need an upgrade at the striker position, but it makes little sense selling Giroud at any cost if it’s unclear whether that upgrade will arrive.

Alex Iwobi has flashed some talent, but he’s a raw, young prospect who has played a handful of good matches. Fellow prospect Jeff Reine-Adelaide is still a question mark, and without Giroud in the squad, the inconsistent Danny Welbeck and Theo Walcott would be the only real options to play up top.

Jan Kruger/Getty Images

Juventus seems an odd fit, as the Bianconeri already have several talented options at the position. Giroud’s profile as a physical, in-the-box striker is similar to that of Mario Mandzukic and Simone Zaza, so it’s hard to see Juventus spending a significant amount of money on Giroud.

Wolfsburg also have a top option in Bas Dost, and Max Kruse has also played as a central striker this year, but the former could be open to leaving Die Wolfe after several years at the club, while the latter is a better fit in midfield.

PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/Getty Images

Elsewhere, the Sun on Sunday (h/t Daily Star’s Alex Harris) claimed Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri hopes to lure Sporting midfielder Carvalho to the King Power with the promise of Champions League football.

The Portugal international has long been linked with a move to Arsenal, but according to the report, the Foxes would love to add him should they lose star midfielder Kante to Manchester United during the summer.

Carvalho is a well-known defensive midfielder at this point, a strong bruiser with solid passing range and vision and tantalising potential. Sporting have done everything possible not to lose him so far, signing him to a new, long-term contract.

Here’s a look at some of his highlights:

For Arsenal, the holding midfielder is no longer a priority following the emergence of Francis Coquelin and the arrival of Mohamed Elneny, and with Sporting expected to hold out for a massive transfer fee, it’s doubtful the Gunners would get involved in the race to sign the Portuguese.

Leicester won’t sell Kante on the cheap and should have the money needed to buy Carvalho should the Frenchmen leave the club this summer.

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