It has been heavily rumoured that Arsenal are looking to sign a back-up centre-forward this summer to compliment Olivier Giroud, and the name journalists most frequently put forward was Loïc Rémy. Unfortunately for the QPR striker, a failed Liverpool medical and questionable behaviour off the pitch appear to have scuppered his chances of signing for The Gunners.
This is, however, a far bigger blow for the player than it is to Arsenal. There are plenty of alternatives available this summer for a similar price. Here are my top three:
1 – Alexandre Lacazette
23-year-old Alexandre scored 23 goals in 46 appearances for Lyon last season, many of which were spectacular in their execution. The Frenchman is known for his eccentric dribbling and dazzling runs, some of which conjure memories of – dare I say it – Luis Suarez.
When it comes to play style, Lacazette is the perfect alternative to Giroud. The Ligue 1 striker is incredibly direct, and prefers to run straight at defenders rather than hold up the ball for his teammates. He has plenty of pace too, and would be able to act as a target for Mesut Özil’s chipped through balls.
As well as his ability to twist and trick his way past opponents, Alexandre is more than capable when in front of goal. The young striker boasts an impressively diverse array of shooting techniques, and can do everything from side-footed tap-ins to powerful long shots.
A bid in the region of £12 million might be enough to persuade Lyon to enter negotiations, although with Newcastle ready to pounce, Arsenal will have to act fast if they wanted to secure the Frenchman’s signature. See the other two players by clicking the page numbers below.