With the off-season transfer window looming closer and closer, there is a lot of speculation in the media in regards to who Arsenal’s summer recruits will be. After reports that the Gunners could move for Barcelona star Arda Turan emerged earlier this week, reports from the Sun, the Metro and the Mirror are all claiming that the Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will make a £20 million offer for the RB Leipzig star Emil Forsberg.
The Swedish international has been a revelation in Germany this season and has been touted as the ‘assist king of Europe’ after notching up as many as 15 assists in 25 Bundesliga appearances, which is more than any player in Europe’s top five Leagues. In addition, the 25-year-old has also scored eight goals and has been a key figure in Leipzig’s excellent Bundesliga campaign so far this season.
Despite having five years left to run on his current deal at the German club, it is understood that the player is keen on taking the next big step in his career and a move to Arsenal may represent a good opportunity at doing so. Gunners’ boss Arsene Wenger has the reputation of moulding promising young players and Forsberg may also be excited by the prospect of playing alongside and learning from assist-wizard Mesut Ozil.
However, that is where the complication lies. While it is not too hard to figure out why the veteran Arsenal manager would be interested in him, my point of concern is what the Frenchman intends to do with the Leipzig player. Despite Forsberg making waves in Europe this season, he definitely cannot be a replacement for Ozil and I certainly hope that Wenger is not eyeing him up as a potential candidate to take the German’s place.
What would be ideal for Arsenal in this regard is if the player is being eyed up as an understudy to Ozil. Considering the fact that Forsberg is a versatile player capable of playing in midfield, behind the striker and even on the flanks as he tends to do for Leipzig, he would be a great signing for Arsenal and add to the creative threat of the Gunners’ attack.
Anurag