Arsenal CLOSING ON £25m Deal For La Liga Star

While those within the Gunner sphere continue to await the defensive signings, if any, that the club would make, Arsenal continues to be linked to a host of attacking players. This time, the Metro links the club with a £25 million move for Atletico Madrid Croatian striker, Mario Mandzukic, the former Bayern Munich forward was linked to North London before he made the switch to the Vicente Calderon last summer. 

The 27 year old has since plundered 14 goals in 22 appearances for Diego Simeone’s side this season.

Again, this is another link that is at best at variance with reality. He is another player that the club does not need at the moment. Arsene Wenger mentioned in his press conference on Friday that he is not looking at bringing in any attacking player because he already has enough of them.

Mario Mandzukic is just like what the club currently have in Oliver Giroud. Both players are very similar in their style of play, and both have similarities in their turn of pace. Besides, Giroud that is in the Arsenal side that is just like the Croatian, there is also Danny Welbeck. The English striker might not score as regularly as many would wish, but he does compensate for it with his work rate, and he is just three goals away from getting to double figures for the season in all competitions.

Before Danny Welbeck turned out to be an Arsenal striker, there was this admiration for Mario Mandzukic from sections of the Arsenal fan base, yet despite being the top striker for Bayern Munich for two seasons, plus the midfield he had behind him, he never got to twenty goals a season for the Bavarians. There is always more appreciation from Arsenal fans for players outside the club than those within it. Oliver Giroud has more about his game than Mario Mandzukic. 

The Croatian cannot be an upgrade on what the club currently has. Why the link flies on the face of rationality is because he was only signed by Altetico Madrid last summer for £12 million, why would they sell him after just six months when he was brought in as the direct replacement of Diego Costa.

It is not uncommon for you to see this type of transfer rumours at this time of the season especially when it transfer window. But then again, when does it ever go away? It practically plays out all year round.

Leaving the veracity or otherwise of the speculation, looking at what Arsenal have in Oliver Giroud, Danny Welbeck and Alexis Sanchez, there is more than a measure of variety to the club’s attack at the moment.

Then, there have been talks that the departure of Lukas Podolski should leave room for another forward, but this should afford Theo Walcott the opportunity to have more time in the side. Before his injury, there was no Welbeck, Sanchez and Campbell in the side. So he is just a part of the pace now, instead being th sole pace in the side.

When such speculations come up, it always good to look at what the club have in that position.