Nearly half way into the January transfer window and we’re still talking about players leaving the club, but this time its actually for good reason.
With Lukas Podolski already heading out to Italian giants, Inter Milan last week, it seems Wenger is keen to get rid of some of the dead wood in the Arsenal squad come the end of the season, and is putting a firm foot down on players who don’t step up their game whilst competing for other clubs.
Loan options have always been a big deal with the boss, who see’s it as a positive for both the player and the club, most common successes coming in the shape of Jack Wilshere, Carl Jenkinson and of course, Joel Campbell.
Wenger confirmed to us that Sanogo will definitely be heading out in the window, but was cautious to point out exactly where, but rumours suggest the Premier League is the destination for the striker on as short term deal until the end of the season.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the popular destinations for the Frenchman, and just what he can expect to get out of the proposed clubs.
QPR (Premier League)
An English club that have a fairly good chance of staying up this season, even if their away form isn’t too pretty to look at. The Hoops, managed by the experienced Harry Redknapp, know just what it takes to stay up, after facing relegation and two promotions in the space of two years.
But now, with in-form striker Charlie Austin at risk of being overplayed, Redknapp needs someone to fill the void left by Eduardo Vargas, who was originally bought in the summer as a striker but has since played on the right wing.
With the fight for places being more like a scrap, this is definitely somewhere Sanogo can instantly make a presence with a starting place. His ability plays around that of QPR, who are keen to work off the striker and then float balls into the middle of the area.
English football is something he needs, because he is yet to prove he is cut out for this league. Wenger has mentioned countless times that Sanogo fails to match the strength of most players in training, so surely a couple of rounds with Joey Barton won’t go a miss.
But seriously, if Sanogo is going to fit in here, he has to start games, but with little competition in the side, he could take it for granted and under perform, something Mr Wenger won’t be so keen on.
One thing is for sure, Sanogo would be more than comfortable with working here, the players and management are more used to seeing new players come in than Wenger is seeing his side finish 4th.
Bordeaux (Ligue 1)
Bordeaux currently sit at sixth place in the table over in France’s top division, so you can almost compare their season objectives to that of Arsenal.
Since signing from Auxerre in 2013, its fair to say Sanogo has looked a little home sick, after failing to compete with his impressive goalscoring record backin his home nation, France.
So let’s look at the positives. A return to the safety of Ligue 1 would do Sanogo a high boost in confidence, he knows the league, he knows the style, and he’s proven he can play. He’s got three months there, and a flurry of goals would be more than welcome for someone who has just one in six appearances this season.
With less of a strength and conditioning run out, Sangogo will be clearer from injury than if he played in the Premier League, which may give him an actual string of games to work off of and carry some momentum to learn what is working and what isn’t.
However, when it comes back to the boss, its nothing he hasn’t already seen before. He’s seen Sanogo in France and thats why he loved him, the move to Bordeaux would simply be a lift for Sanogo himself. Sure, a few goals can raise his attitude but will he actually improve or learn anything new whilst playing over there, I don’t think so.
Hull City (Premier League)
If you believed everything the papers said, then this deal would have been done on the first minute of the January transfer window being opened.
Hull City are the odds on favourite to capture the signature of Sanogo, after Steve Bruce confirmed his admiration of the U21 French international.
“It’s been made clear that Sanogo might be available on loan and it’s something we’ll have a look at” Bruce said in an earlier press conference. With Wenger’s good friendship with the manager and desire for Sanogo to get minutes in the Premier League, it is looking more than likely this will be his final destination.
But does he really fit into the team at The Tigers? Hull currently have four strikers on their books at the moment, and with top signing Abel Hernandez failing to deliver the goods, its no wonder Bruce is looking for refreshments up top.
Sanogo won’t just walk into the starting line up, which is a good thing. But unlike at Arsenal, he has a realistic chance of becoming a regular for the remainder of the season. Hull aren’t afraid to whip balls into the box which will play into the hands of the striker, and their tendency to sit deep is something that will teach Sanogo to come and collect the ball from the midfield, just like Arsene Wenger teaches.
However, with reports also linking Hull City to both Jermaine Defoe and Steven Fletcher, it could be a case of no-go to Sanogo if they were to land a prolific goalscorer like either of those two.