If every Arsenal fan’s worst nightmare was to come true and captain Robin van Persie was to refuse a new deal and be sold by the club, who could possibly attempt to replace the flying Dutchman?
You’d think money would not be a problem should the Gunners sell their prized asset, as a very large fee would be required to gain his services. Based on that, I have come up with a list of possible targets should this happen during the summer.
Matias Suarez – 23-year-old from Argentina, currently plying his trade for Anderlecht in Belgium. Was heavily linked with a move to north London during the January window with some suggestions a pre-contract agreement of some kind is already in place for the end of the season. Has impressed this season with 16 goals in 29 appearances.
Probable Fee – £6-12 million
Lukas Podolski – 26-year-old from Germany, currently with FC Koln. Another player rumoured to be on Arsenal’s hit list during January. Has scored a very impressive 109 goals in 180 league appearances and 43 goals in 91 caps for Germany.
Probable Fee – £12-18 million
Karim Benzema – 24-year-old from France, currently playing for La Liga leaders Real Madrid. A player often overlooked in Spain by Jose Mourinho, but was called one of the two best strikers in the world by the former Chelsea boss. Would require a large fee and a lot would come down to what happens with the management side at the end of the season, with Mourinho reported to be leaving the club after the season ends. Has scored 119 goals in 263 league appearances for Madrid and French side Lyon, whilst netting 13 goals in 42 caps for Les Bleus.
Probable Fee – £25-35 million
Gonzalo Higuain – 24-year-old from Argentina, currently at Real Madrid. As with Benzema, a lot will depend on Mourinho’s future and is the other striker quoted by the Madrid boss as being one of the world’s best. Another impressive record of 112 goals in 243 league appearances and 12 goals in 22 caps for Argentina. Recently reported by the Daily Mail to be part of a £30 million bid to land RVP.
Probable Fee – £30-40 million
Roberto Soldado – The 26-year-old Valencia striker could he be tempted by English football having spent his entire career in Spain so far. May get a chance for Spain at Euro 2012 with David Villa injured and Fernando Torres’ lack of form and goals after being snubbed on a number of occasions. Good performance could see his price rise considerately. Has scored 157 goals in 326 appearances.
Probable fee – £15-18 million
Dieumerci Mbokani – Congo striker currently playing alongside Suarez at Anderlecht. Unheard by most, the 26-year-old has started this season in good form with 7 goals in 10 appearances for the Belgium side. Best known for his time with Standard Liege where he scored 35 goals in 81 appearances. Has been tipped to grace the Premier League in the next year or two and has impressed for his national side with 10 goals in 20 caps.
Any of these could be realistic targets if Van Persie was to leave. Ideally, and I personally feel, Robin will sign a new deal and stay with the club. Arsenal still require reinforcements in attack either way with Marouane Chamakh and Park Chu-Young tipped to leave the club after poor form and lack of opportunities respectively.
Who would you like to see signed if RVP decides to leave?
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Wenger has openly stated that the club as a business expect to make 15 million profit on transfers. He justified that policy saying its a business just like other businesses.
So forget any like-for-like priced players. If RVP goes for 35, the maximum price to pay for a player is 20 million.
That is the policy of arsenal PLC…..why doesnt the author know this?..it was in at least 2 blogs yesterday.
RVP will leave and so will jack and oxo a few years later.
Hesky then on loan. profits before silverware policy
I’d want Hulk from Porto as well as either Hazard or Gotze in a creative role. They’d obviously be very expensive, but if we lose our star man for the second year running, we need to make a serious statement in the transfer market.
Wouldn’t mind Podolski instead of Hulk, though, if he’s available for around £15m. Benzema would be great, but i’m not sure he’d want to move here, especially if Van Persie leaves. He’s been playing quite regularly for Real Madrid.
Arsenal will continue to be a feeder or nursery for the big clubs. So get real.
Llorente too. So many strikers would benefit from our formation,system. Even torres i think. But assuming rvp leaves, i like benzemas all around skills
Giroud from Montepellier (13.6m buyout clause)
AND
One of Podolski/Suarez
In my on view the gud players that arsene wenger suppose 2 be sining during summer is karim benzima,saldado,podolski
I wd prefer Benzema en Poldosk i support VP to leave to have his effort paid