Arsene Wenger will be a disappointed man after his side failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in his tenure. As if that was not enough of a problem, the manager will have to replace one Alexis Sanchez, who is now sure to quit the club in the transfer window. And reports today suggest that Arsenal are looking at Brazilian star Hulk as a possible replacement for the Chilean at the club.
According to Spanish media outlet Don Balon, Wenger is looking at the 30-year old as an option this summer who has recently revealed that he wants to play in England before quitting the game. He is currently playing in the Chinese Super League for the Shanghai SIPG outfit, where he has scored eight goals and has picked up nine assists this season.
Known for his exquisite finishing, tremendous strength and a thunderous shot, Hulk is a genuine goal scorer who has been doing the same in China. He has played for Zenit St Petersburg and FC Porto before moving to China and was also an important part of the Brazilian national squad a few years ago.
At 30, he has gathered a lot of experience and though he is not the mobile of forwards up for grabs, he could be a super solution to the problems at the Emirates.
The Gunners have been desperately searching for a prolific goal scorer to add to their ranks, to give an extra dimension to their attack. Wenger has been looking at the likes of Mauro Icardi and Alexandre Lacazette for a while now but has now reportedly decided that Hulk is the right choice.
The fact that the Gunners are out of the Champions League will affect their transfer targets and this is surely one such story. Wenger will still want the best names in Europe but with not much more to offer, he may lose out on some star signings to other clubs in the league.
Hulk, however, is not really an in-demand commodity and could be one of the last resorts for Arsenal. They will have to pay a hefty wage for the 30-year old but his experience at the highest stage, will for sure, help Arsenal next season.
The likes of Lucas Perez, Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck, have all been less than convincing this season, and Wenger cannot afford another season with them as the only attackers in the squad. Hulk is a decent option, but he is far from a player who can replace the industry of Alexi Sanchez.
Hulk is a decent addition but Wenger has to look elsewhere if he wants to replace the outgoing Sanchez this summer.
