Premier League duo Arsenal and Manchester United are reportedly battling for Krylia Sovetov’s Russia striker Sobolev.
Arsenal are interested in signing Krylia Sovetov striker Aleksandr Sobolev, according to The Sun, with the £15 million-rated hitman understandably thrilled to have caught the eye of Unai Emery’s side.
It is hard to believe that a Gunners team boasting the considerable attacking talents of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette, Nicolas Pepe and teen sensation Gabriel Martinelli would need one more option in the final third.
But after a brilliant start to the season which has earned Sobolev a first ever call up to the Russian national team, the 22-year-old is quickly becoming one of the most in-demand young forwards in Europe.
Sobolev has scored 10 times in just 12 Russian Premier League games this season, over half of Krylia Sovetov’s total, and The Sun claims that Arsenal’s scouts were present as he netted both goals in a 2-0 win against Sochi over the weekend.
The report states Manchester United are also interested in the 6ft 4ins centre-forward with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s struggling side crying out for a new star striker. And Sobolev, regardless of his outstanding current form, appears rather taken aback by interest from two of England’s biggest clubs.
“I was told after the Sochi game that Arsenal scouts came to see me,” he told Sport Express. “In my opinion this is true. I am not 100 per cent sure, but this is what I was told.
“Manchester United’s interest? I can’t even imagine how this could be.”
£15 million potentially makes Sobolev a bargain in today’s market, especially for an Arsenal side who need all the depth they can get as Emery plots to return the fallen giants to the Champions League after three years away.
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