Arsenal Open Talks With Italian & French Club For £30m Rated Duo
Arsenal are in talks with Olympique Marseille of France and Juventus of Italy over striker duo of Andre-Pierre Gignac and Sebastian Giovinco. Arsene Wenger is looking to bring one of the two strikers to the London club when the January transfer window opens.
France international Gignac is Wenger’s first choice and could make a move to Emirate stadium in a cut-price fee this January. Gignac, the leading goal scorer in ligue 1 this season have caught the attention of many clubs after his stellar start in the new season. The 28-year-old contract is set to end in the summer and Marshall are interested in renewing but the player is holding out on a move for pasture new. Marsielle could sell him on a cut-price fee in January in order not to loose him for free at the end of the season.
Sebastian Giovinco, Wenger’s second choice in case the deal for Gignac falls through is also in similar position as Gignac at Juventus. His contract expires at the end of the season and he has not been getting regular football action under his belt after falling behind Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente in the pecking order at Juventus.
Wenger seems to want a striker that can give Olivier Giroud and Danny Welback a stiff competition in the Arsenal attack. As much as the duo of Gignac and Giovinco bring competition to the Arsenal’s attack, this should not be area of top priority in Wenger’s list in the coming transfer window since the striking department is not the area of pressing need.
Arsenal already have good players going forward. Danny Welback, Olivier Giroud, Lukas Poldoski and even Joel Campbell are good enough quality that will guarantee goals upfront. Arsene Wenger should be more concerned on getting a top quality Defensive midfielder as this is the area where Arsenal have looked lightweight over the years. Since the departure of Alex Song, Arsenal have not really gotten a heavy weight midfielder in the mould of say Nemenja Matic of Chelsea, Fernandinho and Fernando of Machester both of Manchester City. This has seen Arsenal being bullied in midfield especially when they meet tough tackling opposition.
Mikel Arteta, Mathieu Flamini and injury prone Abou Diaby to me are all light-weight midfielders no disrespect to what they bring to the team. Players like Sami Khedira of Real Madrid, Kevin Strootman of Roma, or William Carvalho of Sporting are players Arsenal should be going for. They bring with them the grit, energy and power that Arsenal have been lacking in the defensive midfield section of their game.
Althrough the summer, Arsenal was linked to out-of-favour Real Madrid Sami Khedira but a move fail to materialise. With the player’s contract set to expire in the summer and no renew interest from both player and club Arsenal should make a move for the German international come January. Real Madrid will be willing to sell as they won’t want to loose him on a free transfer in the summer. Khedira is still young and at 27 he still has his best years of football ahead of him and it wouldn’t cost much to get him.
William Carvalho would be a costlier though a better option. He is younger, will give Arsenal many years of football. Well built to suit the Premier league, the 22-year-old is a tough tackler and can help out in defensive duties. Has a great out-burst of pace and can guarantee goals going forward.
Re-enforcing his striking department is good for Wenger and Arsenal but the area of top priority when the transfer window re-opens in January should be his defensive midfield.