Arsenal have been busy in this summer’s transfer window and are currently looking at and considering a bid for Olympiakos striker, Kevin Mirallas. Here’s the latest on the situation and a look at the player’s career to date.
According to the player himself, Arsenal have spoken to Olympiakos and inquired about Mirallas but are yet to make a bid for the Belgian forward. He has two years left on his contract at the Greek club but has a 8 million Euros release clause, around £6.5 million- Mirallas fears that this could prove to be a stumbling block to a potential move.
So what do we know about Kevin Mirallas? After playing for hometown club Standard Liege at youth level, Mirallas moved across the border to France, where he played well over 100 times in Ligue 1 for Lille and Saint-Etienne.
During his time in France, Mirallas was never really amongst the goals but that soon changed when he upped and left for Greek side Olympiakos in 2010 at the age of 22. The Belgian scored 14 goals in 27 appearances which saw him finish second only to Djibril Cissé, who scored 20, in the goal-scoring chart and more importantly helped Olympiakos to wrestle back their title from their deadliest rivals, Panathinaikos.
The following season was another successful one for Mirallas and Olympiakos as the player finished the season as the league’s top scorer with 20 goals and won the Player of the Year awards as the club defending their title they had won back the year before. Further success was to come as Olympiakos completed the double by winning the Greek Football Cup after beating Atromitos in the final after extra-time.
If Arsenal are to make an offer for the Belgian international who has made over 20 appearances for his country, scoring five goals then they will face completion from CSKA Moscow who had a £5 million bid rejected earlier in the year, while Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool are also said to be interested in the striker.
He actually has already played at the Emirates, playing 75 minutes as Olympiakos slipped to a 2-1 defeat in last year’s Champions League, and also leading the line as the Greeks beat a depleted Gunners side 3-1 later in the group stages.
Mirallas has said that it is possible that he could come and play in England and likes the thought of linking up with his friend and international team-mate, Thomas Vermaelen. The former Lille and Saint-Etienne player also spoke of how the opportunity to play in the Premier League would be good for him and his family.
Arsenal’s enquiry may be as Mirallas is being viewed as a back-up plan in case the club do cave in and sell Robin van Persie to Manchester United.
Arsene Wenger has recently spoke of how he believes Arsenal will challenge for the league this year – a statement backed up by new-signing Lukas Podolski who scored two in their 4-0 friendly win away at former club, FC Cologne.
The North Londoners have massively strengthened their ranks already this summer so if Olympiacos’ star-man does end up at the Emirates before the month’s out and carries on in the same vein as the last two seasons then surely the Gunners will have to be referred to as serious title contenders.
image: © wonker
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