The Premier League side appear to be closing in on a striker, but perhaps not the one they initially wanted.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger
A report in The Sun has claimed that Arsenal moved for both Antoine Griezmann and Robert Lewandowski this summer before they switched their attention to Lucas Perez.
The Sun reports that the Gunners are closing in on a £17.1m deal for the Deportivo La Coruna forward, but it appears that Arsene Wenger had been hoping to land a much more established goalscorer during this window.
Antoine Griezmann rejected a move to the Emirates, reports claim
The Sun claims that the Premier League side wanted to sign Griezmann, but the Atletico Madrid man turned a move down as he is happy with life in the Spanish capital, while wages proved too big a stumbling block to any move for Bayern Munich star Lewandowski – though The Sun do not outline how serious the club’s interest in the Poland international ever was.
Though Perez has been impressive since joining Deportivo on a permanent deal last summer – scoring 17 goals in 36 league games last season, and bagging the winner in his only appearance of this campaign – Wenger’s side would surely be a lot more threatening if they had completed a deal for either Lewandowski or Griezmann.
Robert Lewandowski was also on Arsenal’s radar
Both men have established themselves as two of the most ruthless goalscorers in Europe in recent seasons, and had they managed to land either, the Gunners would surely have the fire-power they need to win the title.
But their reported interest in those two men may help Lucas make himself a success at the Emirates, if the deal gets across the line, as he will arrive with a point to prove, having seemingly not been one of their initial targets.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
