Arsene Wenger has recently become profound for making marquee signings every year at Arsenal. Following the arrival of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez in previous seasons, is Wenger ready to splash the cash on yet another big name player? Karim Benzema has been the name twisting around the rumour mill for some time now and the transfer may still happen. I take a look at three potential alternatives to the French centre-forward.
Robert Lewandowski – The Gunners have been in desperate need of a world-class striker all summer. El Confidencial reporter Kike Marin claims Arsenal are looking at a ‘secret’ back-up option, which he has now revealed as Lewandowski. Arsenal certainly have the funds to launch an audacious bid for the Polish Striker after Lord Harris backed Wenger to break the bank on a new striker.
Lewandowski’s agent revealed in the past that the player’s next move, if he leaves Bayern, is likely to be to England. The Poland international hit 25 goals last year for the Bundesliga champions, averaging just under a goal every two games. He’s done it in Germany and all around Europe in the UEFA Champions League for Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, but the question is, does he want to do it in the Premier League? Only time will tell, if Wenger proceeds with the transfer.
Realistic price – £44m
Edinson Cavani – Arsene Wenger may be in-line to follow his recent trend of signing Ligue 1 top scorers, just as we saw when Oliver Giroud joined the Gunners from Montpellier in the 2012/13 season. The move has seen Giroud bag over 50 goals for Arsenal therefore this strategy seems to be working for Wenger.
Cavani netted 18 goals in 35 Ligue 1 games last year and faces stiff competition with Zlatan Ibrahimović for the striker role at PSG, which has seen the Uruguayan shifted to a left-wing role. Cavani is a quick, strong, opportunistic, and prolific forward who has a tireless work-rate, meaning he and Alexis Sanchez could prove to be a defender’s nightmare.
With Cavani looking to move back to his favoured central role, a move may be on the cards if Wenger decides to do his shopping in the Ligue 1 once again.
Realistic price – £40m
Marco Reus – As we know, Marco Reus prefers to operate out wide. However Alexis Sanchez operates in the left-wing spot, so one would imagine that the two could interchange to make the game work.
The German winger has been plagued by injuries in previous years, which resulted in him missing out on the triumphant German team that attained the World Cup in 2014. Arsene Wenger could identify Reus as a player who can help fire Arsenal to the target of the Premier League next season and reports have suggested that Reus is set to leave Dortmund, despite signing a new contract.
There is no questions about the undoubted quality Marco Reus holds, and as a player who was previously considered as the world’s best, maybe making a statement in the Premier League at Arsenal will prolong his status and be considered as the man he was thought to be in the 2013/14 season.
Realistic price – £48m
