With the end of the season not far off, speculation about the summer transfer window has already started and one name which is being suggested everywhere is Rodrigo Moreno to Arsenal and according to a report from Mirror, the Gunners are prepared to meet Moreno’s £28m valuation
With every person who watched Arsenal this season saw how acutely Arsenal was missing another striker to support Olivier Giroud for almost the entire season and it makes perfect sense that Arsenal would go in desperately for a striker.
In fact for the Arsenal fans it was painful watching Olivier Giroud in the closing moments of this season when it was looking like he will drop in the field from all the exhaustion itself. In Rodrigo Moreno they might just hit the lottery without having to splurge while getting someone who can very well turn into a world class striker.
While Rodrigo Moreno is still very young he has gathered quite a bit of experience playing through Europe. While he started his professional career with the Real Madrid ‘B’ team, he later moved on to the Portuguese League where he joined Benfica in 2010. However immediately after joining the Portuguese giants he was sent on a season long loan to the Premier League side Bolton Wanderers. His real form was however seen only after he returned to Benfica where he performed with aplomb. This season has been a real breakthrough with his showing in tandem with Oscar Cardozo drawing praise from across Europe which has led to all the interest from clubs from both the Premier League and the Serie A.
However there is a little complication regarding his financial rights as it is not Benfica but rather a private firm which holds all of Rodrigo Moreno’s financial obligations and rights. With Benfica selling the financial rights just earlier this year it was reported that it will take a fee of somewhere in the region of £26million to persuade Moreno to move.
However given his career graph a move to Arsenal looks like something which suits both parties. A pacy striker with a low centre of gravity he will offer something in absolute contrast to Olivier Giroud while not being so raw as Yaya Sanogo. Also his finishing is marvelous and having already proved his credentials at a club like Benfica shows that he might just be ready for a move to the North London club.
The only thing which is a concern is the one which holds true for almost all players who has not played in the Premier League before. Can he thrive in a physical league like the Premier League? Does he have the physique and the stamina to last in the thick and fast action of the Premier League? These are answers we can know only after he makes a move to the Premier League but for what it is worth he seems a fine player who looks ready for challenges. With interest from other clubs like Liverpool and Inter Milan, Arsenal are going to have their work cut out in trying to tempt this young Spanish striker.