Arsenal are about to lose out on one of their summer targets – Lautaro Martínez after reports came out that the Argentine has already agreed personal terms with the Inter Milan management. Martinez was quoted, “I met Ausilio and he told me about Inter. He told me things that I’d already heard from Milito.”
The striker currently plays for Racing Club de Avellaneda and is expected to join the Serie A outfit after this season and play for them till the summer of 2023. Inter are already in danger of losing Mauro Icardi to Real Madrid and this must have been a driving factor in Martinez’s decision. Icardi’s exit will pave the way for the 23-year-old who would want nothing better than to start on a regular basis.
Arsenal have just signed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in Martinez’s position and already has Alexandre Lacazette as the alternate option. Danny Welbeck is currently injured but can play in the similar position. Martinez would have found it hard to break into the first team at the Emirates and this begs the question as to why Arsenal are scouting for a striker right now when they clearly need a wide man after the exit of both Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott.
Even though Arsene Wenger has gained a couple of marquee players, he has lost out on 3 and preparing for the summer is in his best interests. Lucas Perez is expected to return from loan after the season but it is highly unlikely he will ever feature in an Arsenal shirt again.
The manager will have to look for Martinez’s replacement and should consider the following candidates.
Sebastián Driussi
Another Argentine who currently plays for Russian outfit, Zenit Saint Petersburg. Driussi is versatile and is capable of playing as a shadow striker and a winger as well. At 21, he is still finding his way into senior football and has scored 3 goals in 26 appearances this season. He is well versed with both his feet and has the turn of pace which can leave defenders behind on the dribble.
Giovanni Simeone
He currently plays for Serie A side, Fiorentina and was heavily targeted by Tottenham Hotspur in the January window. The son of Atletico Madrid manager, Diego Simeone himself, Giovanni has racked up 8 goals and 4 assists for the Violas this season and can be a great inclusion in the North London side in place of Lautaro Martinez.
Karim Benzema
Real Madrid are ready to offload the Frenchman following the poor season he is currently enduring and Arsenal has been reported to be one of his top destinations. Maybe Wenger will be able to carve out a role for the veteran, who can be eyed as a viable option for the 23-year-old Argentine forward.
