So it looks like Jamie Vardy to Arsenal could be off, with reports now suggesting the striker is set to stay at Leicester City.
The Gunners were expected to sign the 29-year-old after triggering a £20 million release clause in his existing contract. Reports claimed the deal would be done and dusted before he flew out to France with the England squad, but it did not happen. It now seems more likely that Vardy will remain at Leicester, leaving Arsenal to look elsewhere for striking reinforcements this summer.
With that said and Vardy does decide to continue at Leicester City, here are FOUR alternatives Arsene Wenger should consider:
Yannick Carrasco (Atletico Madrid)
The 22-year-old Belgian has attracted the attentions of a number of top European clubs after a dazzling display against Real Madrid in the Champions League final, and Arsenal have been linked with a move for him already this summer.
In fact, the Gunners have tabled a £19.2 million offer for his services, according to Italian football journalist Emanuele Giulianelli.
Carrasco can play anywhere along the front three – but is more comfortable out wide – and his pace and willingness to take on defenders would certainly do Arsenal’s forward line a world of good.
The forward does still has four years left on his contract, but upon hearing that Diego Simeone is considering his future as Atleti manager, Carrasco may decide to seek out a new challenge, should the Argentine leave his post.
He could cost the Gunners anything between £20-25 million at present, but should he perform well at Euro 2016, his asking price could increase dramatically.
If Wenger wants to add more creativity, flair and technique, then Carrasco is his man.
Alvaro Morata (Real Madrid)
Another player that has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal, Morata was supposedly Wenger’s top striker target this summer.
Wenger will surely be keeping tabs on his situation, as the Spaniard looks set to return to Real Madrid after another successful spell at Juventus.
However, the 23-year-old’s future at the Bernabeu remains in doubt, with a regular starting place potentially out of reach.
He is not a goal machine, but will offer another dimension upfront, and can only improve with time and playing with more creative players.
The only stumbling block would be the player’s transfer fee which is reportedly near the £40 million mark, but unfortunately you have to spend money to achieve what you want in football these days.
Not my first-choice and would be a gamble considering he is not as prolific as others out there, but he’s an option to consider this summer.
Michy Batshuayi (Marseille)
The jury may still be out on whether Batshuayi is really all he cracks up to be, but is another striker Wenger could turn to this summer.
Quick, strong, and imposing in the air, the Belgium international is a very similar type of forward to Vardy – just a younger version.
The Marseille forward netted 26 goals in 50 total appearances last season for the Ligue 1 outfit and has been linked with a move to the Premier League, with West Ham and Spurs reportedly interested.
Marseille will however want as much as £38 million – a lot of cash to splash, especially considering he is not a proven forward.
With that said, Europe will be watching to see if he can live up to the hype surrounding him and this could be detrimental to Wenger’s chances of snapping him up.
Would certainly be a gamble in many eyes.
Romelu Lukaku (Everton)
Plain and simple, Lukaku wants to play in the Champions League, we can offer it to him.
The robust forward also has vast Premier League experience under his belt and knows where the goal is – 25 goals in 45 total appearances last season is not a bad return for an Everton striker (no disrespect intended to the Merseyside club) – and is probably one of the strikers out there that the Arsenal faithful would love to see come in this summer.
Under the tutelage of Wenger, as well as being fed by a creative Arsenal midfield, the 23-year-old can only get better with time.
Lukaku still has three-years left on his contract and is valued at around the £30 million mark – a price worth paying.