Lukas Podolski left to join Inter on loan for the remainder of the season over the weekend, while both Joel Campbell and Yaya Sanogo have also been tipped to leave on a temporary basis to acquire regular first-team football. Should the young Frenchman and Costa Rican forward both depart this month, we will be left with just one natural striker in the shape of Olivier Giroud.
Arsene Wenger has already told us that he will only delve into the market this month if the right player comes along (déjà vu all over again) and of course if the funds are there to utilize. But while many of us want to see the Frenchman bolster the defence and add a holding midfielder this January, is Wenger set to ignore our pleas in order to add more attacking prowess? I certainly hope not, but seeing one (Podolski) leave already and potentially another two (Sanogo and Campbell) on their way out, it looks that way.
Wenger has a tendency to disregard the more pressing matters when it comes to strengthening the squad (no disrespect intended, but he does) and his stubbornness emerges, leaving us lot either scratching our heads or infuriated with the Frenchman.
So let’s say Campbell and Sanogo seal moves away from the club this month, should Wenger go out and sign a striker? If he does, then he is basically showing that he has no faith in the three he let depart on loan, but to answer the question, yes he will have to – he cannot rely on Giroud, look what happened last year, and although Alexis Sanchez has played the centre-forward role in the past, the Chilean is more effective out wide, while Theo Walcott is not at 100% yet and Danny Welbeck isn’t clinical enough.
So which striker should Wenger attempt to sign this month if Campbell and Sanogo leave? Well I think he should go for Wilfried Bony, who recently revealed he wants to leave Swansea and join a club playing Champions League football. We were reportedly in for him over the summer and this seems the best time to go for him if Wenger wants to add to his attacking options.
Bony did sign a new contract at Swansea in November, which dismissed the £19 million release clause that was in his initial deal, but reports claim he did it on the basis that he would be allowed to speak to Champions League clubs.
It is unknown how much Swansea will demand for Bony, but the Telegraph reckons the Welsh club will hold out for £30 million for the 26-year-old, with the Ivorian wanting to pick up £100,000-a-week – which would be affordable for the Gunners.
Bony has been impressive in the Premier League for Swansea since joining them from Vitesse in summer 2013, finding the back of the net 25 times in 54 appearances (nine in 20 so far in this campaign).
He boasts experience in the English game and is a powerful figure upfront. The Ivory Coast international also has a piercing eye for goal, a high work-rate and is very effective in the air. In addition, I also believe he would suit our style of play, offer him the Champions League football he is looking for and offer Giroud competition for a starting berth in the line-up.
A lot still needs to happen for Wenger to potentially make a move for another forward, this month, but Bony should be the man the Frenchman targets, and perhaps the Ivorian would consider us over a move to Manchester City because he would feature more for us than at Manuel Pellegrini’s side in the long run.
