Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, has long faced accusations of dithering in the transfer market by some sections of his own supporters. They claim it’s cost the club key players in the past but now it seems his indecisiveness is understandable.
Wenger spoke with representatives of Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette, 25, last week and the only stumbling block to completing the move seemed to be the French club’s insistence on a fee of £40m.
Now, the Arsenal manager finds he can sign Everton’s Romelu Lukaku, 23, for a similar amount despite the Merseyside club slapping a £65m price-tag on their star striker.
What is a manager to do?
His current main striker, Olivier Giroud, 29, has been in splendid form for France this summer but remains prone to scoring in streaks and went four months without a goal earlier this year. That spell saw Arsenal tumble out of the title race and another forward becoming a high priority for the Gunners.
They don’t intend to sell Giroud but keep him as part of a new strike partnership and Plan B, as games dictate.
Both Lacazette and Lukaku offer a different approach to the French international, answering criticism that the north London club are too predictable and easy to defend against. With the pace both offer, the times of a high defensive line keeping Arsenal at bay could be over.
Lukaku has made his intentions to leave for a Champions League club clear and Arsenal are his preferred destination. It suits the Gunners as well, with his Premier League experience a key factor.
Reaching a deal won’t be easy though; Juventus are keen on the Belgian as they look to replace Alvaro Morata, 23, who returned to Real Madrid recently.
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