Arsene Wenger, in his 21st-year in charge of the Emirates outfit, is not close to a trophy this season, but the manager is expected to stay at the club beyond this season according to recent reports. So it does not come as a surprise that he is already planning for life after the end of the season.
Wenger, who spend a decent amout money at the start of the season, is not completely happy with the squad at his disposal and is looking to add a few players to the squad and like last season, getting in a top class striker seems to be his first target for the transfer window. A number of star names have been linked with a move to the club recently and one such player who is a might join the Gunners, is Lyon’s sensation Alexandre Lacazette. But for this move, the Gunners need to shell out his £60m buyout clause.
The 25-year old Lyon star is one of the most prolific goalscorers in Europe at the moment and has been a transfer target for the Gunners for more than a couple of transfer windows now. Wenger was close to landing him at the start of the current season but the French outfit managed to hold on to him for another season. However, the striker is now ready to make a move and Lyon have revealed that they are ready to listen to offers close to £60m in the summer. West Ham are also interested in his signature but do Arsenal need him? Should they make a move?
Wenger, who could not get his hands on any of his transfer targets in the summer had to settle down with La Liga star Lucas Perez but the Spaniard has just not been able to provide the kind of a spark in front of goal that was expected of him. This has seen Wenger stick with Alexis Sanchez for most of the season with Olivier Giroud and the recently fit Danny Welbeck shuffling between the first team. The Chilean winger would love to be back on the flank, where he has been productive leaving Wenger with three stars, who have not been at the best of the forms in recent years.
A deadly finisher, who is known for his long-range efforts, Lacazette is a player who loves to have the ball at his feet in dangerous areas. Though not his biggest strength, Lacazette is a decent dribbler who loves to find space in the final third to create and score chances with ease. His return of 18 goals and an assist in 17 starts is right up there with the best in the business but there is an impending feeling among Arsenal fans that he is yet to prove himself in a league better than the League 1 in France.
Perez and Welbeck will be used regularly while Olivier Giroud signed a new contract and has a distant future at the Emirates. But neither of these stars at the club have enough potential in them to take the club all the way to the top and this is where Lacazette can make a difference. The 25-year old has the ability to create things even when nothing is happening and this might help the Gunners get out of games they fail to win. His goal scoring prowess is what Arsenal have missed this season and with his style of play closely matching that of Arsenal, he is a super option for Arsene Wenger.
Though he has no previous experience in the Premier League, Lacazette has all the attributes that can make him a superstar in England but should Arsenal cough up £60m for him this summer? Is he that big a need at the Emirates?
Comments are closed.