Arsenal have identified Eintracht Frankfurt goal-machine Andre Silva as a replacement for Alexandre Lacazette in Mikel Arteta’s frontline, as reported by Calciomercato and Milan News.
Like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang before him, the Portugal international overcame a difficult spell at the San Siro before making good on his vast potential over in Germany.
Andre Silva has plundered a remarkable 19 goals in 21 games this season, catapulting Frankfurt into Champions League contention, keeping prodigal son Luka Jovic on the bench, while passing the mark set by Aubameyang during his debut season at Borussia Dortmund.
For the first time since his £33 million move from Porto to Milan in 2017, Silva has some of Europe’s biggest clubs in a furious feeding frenzy.
Manchester United and Atletico Madrid have already been linked.
And, according to both Calciomercato and Milan News, Arsenal are now in the race too, identifying Silva as a potential successor for the 31-year-old Lacazette.
Lacazette is due to become a free agent in 2022 and, despite enjoying an impressive run of form since the festive period, the signs suggest that his four-year Gunners career will be coming to an end sooner rather than later.
Silva, at just 25, would inject some youth into Arteta’s attack, although it remains to be seen if he can emulate the ferocious team-ethic and line-leading ability of Lacazette.
Formerly a one-dimensional, penalty-box poacher, Silva has made huge strides in Germany, honing his link-play outside the 18-yard area while still enjoying the most prolific league campaign of his career.
“When I retire, Portugal will be in good hands because they have already found a great striker: Andre Silva,” the one and only Cristiano Ronaldo told Gazzetta dello Sport, via Goal, in 2017.
Finally, Silva is making good on all that potential.
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