With ongoing rumours of either Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain or Theo Walcott leaving this summmer, there have been many Arsenal transfer rumours suggesting that Wenger is on the lookout for a new top class winger to add to our goals tally next season.
Obviously the Leicester Player-of-the-season Riyad Mahrez has already been discussed as a possible addition and he would certainly be an improvement to our squad, but the latest rumours are saying that another classy Premiership star in Sadio Mane from Southampton is also on our list as a replacement for The Ox.
The Mirror article states: The 24-year-old – signed from Salzburg for £11.25million – was a target for Manchester United last summer. Saints have rejected any prospect of a move, but a bid around £17m could secure him.
Mane, who made his debut for the Saints against Arsenal in Sept 2014, is famous for making a new Premier League record for the fastest hat-trick, scoring three times in 176 seconds during a 6–1 win over Aston Villa at the end of last season. That brought his total to 10 goals that season from the wing. He has improved that in the campaign just finished with a total of 15, and at just 24 years old he could still carry on improving.
Both those two possible targets have proven Premiership form, but I also like the idea of bringing the German ex-prodigy Mario Gotze into the fold, as his career has stuttered since being shoved to the back of the queue at star-studded Bayern Munich. Wenger has been linked with Gotze for many years and it looks like he will definitely be on the move this summer.
Yesterday his national team coach Joachim Low told him that a move would be beneficial this summer. “Generally I say sometimes a change can put more forces free – a new environment, new challenges, new stimuli.” Low said.
“Look at the development of Toni Kroos. At Bayern he was great; in Madrid he has made a leap yet again.
“Gotze needs a coach who wants to have him in his team. But that is not a criticism of Bayern, certainly not to Pep Guardiola.”
Low has included Gotze in the preliminary German squad despite his lack of regular action, and if he plays well he could be put in the shop window. I think it is definitely worth Arsenal taking a slight risk on him. He certainly has the talent and perhaps Ozil could be his mentor….
What do you think?
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