Arsenal are reportedly plotting a surprise swoop for Shanghai SIPG striker Hulk after he admitted his admiration for the club. The Brazil international is being seen as a potential replacement for contract rebel Alexis Sanchez.
The Gunners ended their campaign on a high note as they clinched a 3-1 win over Everton despite being a man down for much of the game. In spite of this, they will be plying their trade in the Europa League after having finished fifth in the league with a record position points tally of 75.
Spanish publication Don Balon suggests that the Gunners are planning for life after Sanchez following the Chilean’s reluctance to extend his contract – due to expire in June 2018.
Sanchez has attracted interest from the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea following a top season where he has amassed 29 goals across all competitions, but the Gunners would still prefer offloading him to a club overseas with Bayern Munich recently emerging as an option.
As a result, the north London outfit have begun their quest to sign a new centre-forward with Hulk, the latest player to be linked with a proposed switch to the Emirates.
Hulk, 30, is currently featuring in the Chinese Super League where he has impressed with five goals and four assists this term, but a return to Europe could still be on the cards after his hint last week.
“It’s always been a dream, it’s a very competitive championship and the stadiums are full in every game, no matter what the team, I always follow the league and I have always supported Arsenal,” he is quoted as saying on Metro, via Sport TV.
The experienced striker has netted over 50 goals during his previous stints with Porto and Zenit St.Petersburg, and his muscular physique could place him in good regard, should he opt for a Premier League challenge.
Despite this, the FA Cup finalists could back off from a potential deal for the striker as his current £320,000-a-week wages is something they would be unwilling to match after having held a similar stance on Sanchez for most of the campaign.
Hulk has not played a part for Brazil since their early Copa America exit in 2016, and he may need to prove his credentials at a higher level in order to regain his place with the national team.
