Despite having most of their targets signed this summer, Everton still missed out on one of the key signings they had aimed at the beginning of the transfer window, a striker. Romelu Lukaku’s departure from Goodison Park was known even before the last season ended and it was a matter of time before Everton had to part ways with him.
And getting in a fit Wayne Rooney, who still has a good two years in his lungs, was a masterstroke by Everton in all means that has already started showing its potential. However, one cannot deny the impact Lukaku had for the Toffees last season up front with his gigantic presence and brilliant link up play. The likes of Ross Barkley and Tom Davies got huge assurances when moving up with him holding the ball brilliantly.
And although in Rooney, Sandro Ramirez and Dominic Calvert Lewin, Ronald Koeman does have some reliable options, they have failed to move forward with the similar ease as last season and their loss against Chelsea exhibits it. Among Koeman’s preferable replacements for Lukaku remained Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud, whose future had looked shaky following the arrival of Alexandre Lacazette this summer.
In Arsenal’s kit launch during their pre-season, the Frenchman had given enough hints that he would seek a place elsewhere. He had said, “It (leaving) is an option, to be honest with you… I’m here in pre-season, I wanted to travel… I am Arsenal player and for the moment I am here so I just want to prepare well for the season and we will see later.”
However, the striker decided to stay with the club after they kick-started the season with a Community Shield win over Chelsea. And given that the next World Cup could be Giroud’s last in all likeliness, he wouldn’t want to lose his place in the national team by trying out a new team. And he was right to do it as his winner against Leicester City has still kept him in France’s starting line-up.
Koeman would, however, still try and get him in the winter after the poor start to the campaign by Arsenal. The Gunners are a mess right now with depleting funds restricting them to buy more players in the summer. Although Giroud remains an important piece of Wenger’s puzzle, the manager wouldn’t hesitate to sell the 31-year-old for the right price.
At 192cm, Giroud is one of the most dangerous forwards in the league when it comes to aerial balls and brilliant link-up play. He has been Wenger’s impact player for some time now and looks like the perfect replacement for Lukaku at Goodison Park.
