Arsenal are looking at Ademola Lookman as an alternative to Eberechi Eze this summer, but have been warned that would be a mistake by their former player Jermaine Pennant.
The Gunners have been busy in the transfer market during this window, bringing in the likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Noni Madueke, Martin Zubimendi, Cristhian Mosquera, Christian Norgaard and Kepa Arrizabalaga.
They may not be done just yet, though, with Crystal Palace and England star Eze continuing to be linked with a move across London to the Emirates.
Eze had a release clause of £68m in his contract earlier this summer but that has now expired and the Eagles’ asking price for the forward is unclear.
The 27-year-old’s contract at Selhurst Park runs until 2027 so Palace are not in immediate pressure to sell him, but his market value is unlikely to go up from this point.
Your ultimate guide to the football season
In The Mixer: Exclusive analysis, FPL tips and transfer talk sent straight to your inbox every week – sign up, it's an open goal.
If Arsenal cannot do a deal for Eze, the Sun reports that they are eyeing Atalanta’s Lookman, who is very keen to leave his current club this summer.
Inter Milan want to sign the Nigeria international and he has handed in a transfer request, but Atalanta are digging their heels in.
Pennant feels that Lookman is not at the standard of Eze and Arsenal should be focussing on a deal for the Crystal Palace star rather than looking at the Atalanta man.
‘Personally Arsenal should be signing Eze. He adds a lot more flair in the midfield. In the past I feel as though they’ve relied heavily on Odegaard to be the creator around the box,’ Pennant told AceOdds.com.
‘Eze fits the creative mould perfectly. He can bring players in, he can assist, he picks the ball up and drives past players and we know he can score goals. For me, that’s a very good signing and a signing that elevates Arsenal.’
‘Look at the figures being handed around for players. £70m, £80m, even in the £90m’s. Eze at £68m is good business. You’d be happy with that. Liverpool sold Diaz for £65m. If you want to be competitive you’ve got to start paying the bucks and Arsenal are resistant to spending high but you’ve got to pay the money for Eze.’
On the 27-year-old Lookman, Pennant added: ‘Lookman is a good player and he’s done well at Atalanta but you’ve got to think about whether he can do it consistently in the Premier League and if he’s proven in the league. Is he much better than [Leandro] Trossard?
‘He’d be another signing that might add strength in depth but it wouldn’t make me think Arsenal are going to now win the league. Arsenal need top players now.’
Former Liverpool winger Pennant is a fan of Trossard and thinks the Belgian should be kept at Arsenal, despite links with a move away from the club this summer.
‘Trossard was a key part of Arsenal’s title charge with late goals so I think they need to keep him even if it makes him unhappy,’ he said. ‘With him you’ll get eight or nine goals a season minimum.’
Speaking about Arsenal’s intentions in the transfer market as the new Premier League season approaches, manager Mikel Arteta said on Saturday: ‘Let’s see what happens, in terms of where the squad is in the next few weeks. But we are actively looking at options.
‘As well, there are a few players that, maybe, they have to leave as well. So, we will be open to see what happens.’
No comments:
Post a Comment