I’ve read it over and over in the media of late, Arsenal football club are preparing to buy a striker in the summer. Let me assure you now, it’s all complete mumbo jumbo.
Arsenal will be looking to bolster the squad come the summer with the head of recruitment, Sven Mislintat heavily involved in any acquisitions.
I’ve been told that Mislintat has been present at matches and during training. He has been in discussion with Arsene Wenger and has been actively involved with the academy.
He has also, since the day he arrived been scouting in advance of the summer transfer window.
The brief given to the head of recruitment was brief, find the talent to help us win the Premiership and Champions League. Since his appointment in November, Mislintat has been to countless games at every level in a number of countries and has a list of players that he will recommend when discussions begin in the summer.
The German is one of the most respected scouts in football and his recommendations are usually rubber-stamped quickly because of his ability to find world-class players.
Wenger himself trusts the judgment of the recruitment chief and it should be easy for the two to identify the weak areas and fill the voids with genuine quality, but one area Mislintat is ignoring for the foreseeable future is the position of striker.
He has identified attacking wingers, midfielders and defenders but with Lacazette and Aubameyang already at the club, the need for another striker would be completely ridiculous. However, that doesn’t mean that an attack-minded midfielder wouldn’t be considered as an option. When Thierry Henry came to Arsenal it was virtually written in stone that the Frenchman was a winger but that changed dramatically during his stay at the club.
Nabil Fekir is one such player that can sit in the midfield pulling the strings or he can be placed in a striking role as the need arises. Mislintat is a known admirer of the player, as is Wenger. However it remains to be seen if Zidane is determined to bid for the Frenchman’s signature, this may provide the only obstacle to securing his signature.
Kostas Manolas, Kalidou Koulibaly, Jose Gimenez, Inigo Martinez, Marquinhos and Samuel Umtiti are all names that are on a number of clubs radar but there may be others that Mislintat has identified that are not.
Arsenal are in good hands and the types of incoming transfers will certainly improve , especially in the summer. Expect a number of new faces but as many heading for the exit door.
