Arsenal Turn Attention to Juventus Forward After Podolski Set Back
Arsenal are contemplating a bid for Juventus forward Fabio Quagliarella in a bid to ease their forward concerns.
Arsene Wenger's efforts to strengthen his forward options have failed to yield success this summer, with the Gunners failing with bids to bring Gonzalo Higuain and Luis Suarez to the club.
With Lukas Podolski facing up to ten weeks on the side lines with a hamstring injury, the Arsenal boss is under added pressure to strengthen his attacking options before the closure of the transfer window on Monday.
The Evening Standard suggests the club may now turn to Italy international Quagliarella, who Juventus are looking to move on having changed their own forward options this summer.
The Bianconeri are close to finalising a deal that will see Alessandro Matri move to Milan in a deal worth a reported €12m and are also looking to find a new club for Quagliarella, with Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente now the focal points of the club's attack.
The 30-year-old, who has been capped 25 times for the Azzurri, has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League this summer, having reportedly turned down opportunities to join Norwich City and Southampton.
West Ham United and Sunderland have also been credited with interest in the forward, but Arsenal would undoubtedly hold the advantage were they to make their interest formal, given their participation in this season's Champions League.
The Gunners' only summer additions thus far have been 20-year-old striker Yaya Sanogo and Mathieu Flamini who has signed for the club for a second time, with both players arriving on free transfers.
With less than five days before the transfer window closes, Wenger is still urgently looking to add to his squad, with his forward options of particular concern. Podolski's absence leaves the club with the options of Theo Walcott, Olivier Giroud and the largely unproven Sanogo up front; with 17-year-old Chuba Akpom the club's only other genuine forward in the ranks.
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