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Arsenal have made a transfer enquiry for former Manchester United star and Barcelona forward Memphis Depay…
THE LOWDOWN: STRIKER SEARCH
Mikel Arteta and technical director Edu Gaspar are preparing for a big summer in which a new No.9 will be on top of the agenda as they aim to close the gap on the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea in the Premier League.
The club are actively seeking to find a replacement for former captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, while Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah could also be departing due to their expiring contracts.
It means Arsenal will be busy scouring the market for a new goalscoring no.9 who could fire them to trophy success next season, and Depay is reportedly in their sights.
THE LATEST: MADE CONTACT
According to ABC, the Gunners have enquired about the Dutch international, as they look to boost their forward line this summer.
The report outlines that Arsenal have ‘made contact’ with the Barcelona hierarchy to find out how much a deal to prise Depay away from Catalonia would cost.
The former Manchester United star’s current deal is set to expire next summer – meaning the Catalan giants could elect to cash in on the forward rather than running the risk of losing him for nothing in 12 months’ time.
THE VERDICT: GET HIM IN
The ex-PSV Eindhoven star will only have a year left on his contract in the summer, and so there is a chance that the north London club can grab the former Manchester United superstar on the cheap, in what could be a serious coup for Arteta.
Dubbed a “brilliant” player by pundit and former Gunners striker Kevin Campbell, and hailed as “one of the best” by his teammate Riqui Puig, the 28-year-old possesses the kind of pedigree that Arsenal are desperate for in attack.
A proven goalscorer at international level, former Barca and soon-to-be Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman knows of his qualities, noting his “effectiveness, speed (and) strength”, which suggests Depay would certainly be a good fit for Arteta’s system at the Emirates.
Despite being on the fringes of the team at the Camp Nou, the £40.5m-rated star – also lauded as a “special talent” by Marco van Basten – still remains the club’s top scorer this season, with 12 goals and two assists in 20 La Liga starts, an impressive record, which is considerably more than Alexandre Lacazette’s six across all competitions.
Incredibly athletic, direct, skillful and pacey, adding the former PSV Eindhoven attacker to their ranks would certainly be a statement acquisition for Arsenal, especially to their rivals.
Whether they can get this deal over the line remains to be seen with their Champions League hopes taking a huge dent after their defeat to Newcastle United left them two points behind fierce rivals Spurs who sit fourth, heading into the last day of the campaign.
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