According to Grant Wahl, Arsenal are keeping an eye on Matthew Hoppe. The FC Schalke striker is expected to leave Gelsenkirchen after they were relegated to the second division last season. The youngster is currently enjoying an excellent Gold Cup campaign with USMNT, but it appears Arsenal and Everton have both expressed their desire to sign the forward.
Matthew Hoppe: The Future Of US Football?
In recent years, US Soccer has enjoyed an unprecedented number of talented players coming through the ranks, especially from the Bundesliga. Matthew Hoppe was one such breakout star for FC Schalke, one of the bright spots in an otherwise disastrous campaign for Die Konigsblauen.
A centre forward by trade, Hoppe broke into the scene with a sensational hat-trick in the 4-0 win over TSG Hoffenheim. It was Schalke’s first win of the campaign, one that helped the club avoid matching Tasmania Berlin’s 31 game winless streak.
With no real competition, it didn’t take long for Hoppe to become the first-choice striker for Schalke. The youngster ended the Bundesliga campaign with six goals in 22 appearances, but it wasn’t enough to avoid relegation.
Impressing the onlookers with his marvellous positional sense in the final third, as well as pace and intelligence, Hoppe is currently involved in the Gold Cup campaign with USMNT. He isn’t having a bad tournament either, starring in wins over Jamaica, Martinique and Qatar, helping his national team reach the final against Mexico.
Is Hoppe Worth The Gamble For Arsenal?
Arsenal are on the lookout for attacking reinforcements this summer, as Mikel Arteta hopes to move on from Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah. Neither of these options have managed to impress and their current contract situation might see them depart Emirates soon.
On that note, Matthew Hoppe could be an exciting option. While the youngster may not provide the physicality that is often essential in the Premier League, his snapshotting abilities, combined with his positional sense inside the box, make him quite the poacher.
In fact, the American international’s style of play is quite similar to ex-Man City superstar Sergio Aguero. He could serve as a direct backup for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang or perhaps as his attacking partner, knowing the Gabonese can drift out wide if necessary.
The Schalke forward isn’t expected to cost a fortune either as the fallen German giants are currently in the second division and desperately looking for a financial injection. And given the amount of success Arsenal have had in recent years when it comes to nurturing young players, Hoppe could indeed be a smart investment for the Gunners.