Arsenal finished runners-up in what turned out to be the most topsy-turvy Premier League campaign in recent memory. Even the pessimistic clan of Arsenal supporters agrees that they could have ended their title drought had they not suffered so many injuries during the course of the season.
With Danny Welbeck already ruled out for just three months short of a year, Arsene Wenger has confirmed that he would bring in striker reinforcements in the summer.
The English media has been linking the Gunners with high-profile strikers such as Romelu Lukaku, Gonzalo Higuain, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. However, given the ridiculous transfer fee those will command, the frugal Arsenal gaffer will likely be reluctant to break the bank to sign them as he had passed up the chance to sign similar names in Antoine Griezmann, Karim Benzema, and Luis Suarez in the past thanks to the same reason.
With Arsenal reportedly paying £30 million for Granit Xhaka’s services, they might still proceed to complete a big money move for an Edinson Cavani, but their manager only recently claimed that Olivier Giroud would remain his side’s first-choice striker, irrespective of the incomings.
Bearing his words in mind, O-Posts lists five realistic strikers the Ashburton Grove club could sign in the upcoming weeks.
Arkadiusz Milik
Arsenal are rumoured to be keeping tabs on the Polish striker since the turn of the year, with the Sun reporting last Wednesday that he has been identified as a summer target.
Having notched up 24 goals and 13 assists in a measly 37 starts for Eredivisie champions Ajax Amsterdam, the left-footed goal machine has already proven his talent on the big stage, and at a tender age of 22, he can only get better.
Reports suggest that his club have slapped a £15 million price tag on him; Arsenal can easily land him should they want to.
Michy Batshuayi
After scoring 10 goals in eight starts in the 2014/15 campaign, now-axed Olympique Marseille manager Michel made him a first-team regular, and the £38.7 million-rated Belgian forward repaid his faith on the pitch, as he was directly involved in 33 goals in 45 starts last season.
His heroics, however, could not prevent the Stade Velodrome outfit drop to the bottom half of the Ligue 1 table. Much like other players discussed here, he also earned his first international cap last season.
As things stand, he clearly is out of Marseille’s league, and the club have recently announced that he will depart the club once the transfer window opens.
Everton and Arsenal’s bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur are seemingly keen to offer him the escape route.
Alexandre Lacazette
After scoring just two goals in ten Ligue 1 outings, he was branded as a one-season wonder, but he made up for the dry spell by finishing second behind departing PSG star Ibra in the goalscoring charts, grabbing a couple of hat-tricks on the course.
Netting 21 goals in 34 league games, he has attracted interests from a host of European outfits, including Arsenal’s local rivals West Ham United, who recently saw their £31 million bid knocked back by Olympique Lyonnais.
However, the lure of Champions League football might give Arsenal the upper hand. With Lyon owner Jean-Michel Aulas openly admitting that his club will be helpless if the right offer comes in, Arsenal can definitely snap him up.
Romelu Lukaku
Of all the potential targets discussed, only the Everton striker boasts the Premier League experience, and accordingly, has an inflated market value; his club value him at over £65 million.
Having scored 18 goals in 29 appearances, pundits tipped him to win the Golden Boot last season, but an Arsenal-esque dip in form saw him go nine games without a goal towards the tail end of the season.
In addition, as Arsenal can sign players of the calibre of Gonzalo Higuain with a few more millions, signing him is a risk, but the London club may dare to take that risk as he is only 22 and can improve his first touch and other minor weaknesses to become a world-class striker under his long-term admirer in the Arsenal manager.
Vincent Janssen
Despite failing to find the net in his first seven league outings for AZ Alkmaar last season, the 21-year-old striker went on to score 32 goals and collected seven assists across all competitions.
As he is only 21, he could replace Arsenal’s number 12 in the short term and could prove a long-term solution to their striking issues.
Given his impressive passing range, ambidextrous nature, ability to take defenders on, and most importantly, hold up play, he embodies everything the Arsenal faithful have been screaming for.
In addition, the fact that he was relatively unknown and was playing youth football not so long ago may mean Arsenal are under no pressure to pay Anthony Martial amounts of monies for him.
Written by Praveen Paramasivam
Follow Praveen on Twitter @49Praveen
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