According to an exclusive report by Calcio Mercato, Premier League giants Arsenal are said to be among of host of European heavyweights who are keeping tabs on the progress of São Paulo’s highly-rated Brazilian striker Brenner. The attacker, who is actually of Italian descent, is said to be on the radar of some of the biggest clubs in the continent, with a hefty European release clause already embedded into his contract as well. While the contractually obligated clause warrants a minimum payment of €50m, it has been clarified in the report that he could be sold for less.
Although the report has clarified that Arsenal are targeting a move for São Paulo striker Brenner, whether or not they’re able to convince him on making a switch to the Premier League remains to be seen. The 20-year-old is reportedly contracted to the Brazilian club until the summer of 2022, but he’ll likely be allowed to get a move on in the summer.
The Gunners will be faced with some heavy competition in the race for the attacker’s signature, as the likes of Lazio, AC Milan, Juventus, Ajax and PSG are all said to be quite keen as well.
What Is Arsenal’s Current Strike Situation?
Mikel Arteta’s men currently have three distinct striking options to choose from, but this has been limited to just two because of necessities in other areas of the pitch. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, before he arrived at Arsenal, used to be one of the Bundesliga’s best strikers.
His goalscoring rate is arguably what tempted the Gunners to make a move, and despite his starring displays over the last couple of seasons, the manager has preferred to use him in the wide role. As effective as he has been at times, there’s no getting around the fact that he’s the best striker in the Gunners’ roster.
With Aubameyang operating down the flank, the two striking options that Arsenal are left with are Frenchman Alexandre Lacazette and academy product Eddie Nketiah. The former was brought in to compete with Aubameyang for the striker’s role, and despite a couple of above average seasons, it now looks like Lacazette isn’t suited to the fast-paced action of the English game. His finishing has been found lacking on numerous occasions, to the extent that the manager has preferred to make use of young Nketiah upfront. As good as the youngster has been, it’s worth taking into account that he’s still far too inconsistent to be able to deliver regularly.
What Makes Brenner A Good Option For Arsenal?
At 20-years-old, Brenner has the potential to develop into one of the best strikers in the world, and Arteta will do well to take a page of Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus book and bring him in. Standing at 1.75m tall, the Brazilian offers a decent amount of movement and pace in the final third, but his biggest strength is undoubtedly finishing. Capable of scoring goals from improbable ranges and angles, Brenner has caught the attention of some of the biggest clubs in the continent. The attacker has produced 15 goals in 25 appearances for São Paulo this season, and those numbers will be attractive to Arsenal as well.
Arsenal Are Targeting A Move For São Paulo Striker Brenner: Why Arteta Must Get It Done
The Gunners’ attack has been struggling without a clear focal point over recent weeks, and their complete dependence on Aubameyang for goals as well as creativity has been hurting them for a while now. Lacazette looks like a shadow of the player he was in the Ligue 1, while it would be criminal to ask Nketiah to lead the line regularly as well.
To this end, signing a player like Brenner would make a lot of sense for the north London club. At 20, the youngster can be moulded into the kind of striker that Arteta wants, and if he’s able to compete with Nketiah for the starting role, then there’s every chance that both of their developments will be expedited as well.
