Arsenal Exposes Secret Target: 15 Million Pound England National Team Striker, Wenger Refuses to Buy Van Nistelrooy Due to Past Issues
Tall and imposing Carlton Cole
With Van Persie suffering a serious injury that could jeopardize his season, Bendtner is also sidelined, expected to return in a few weeks. Croatian striker Eduardo remains injured, and Rosicky, who just returned from injury, is now troubled by a groin issue. As the tough Christmas schedule approaches, Arsenal's attacking lineup is thin. Therefore, media speculations suggest Wenger will make a move in the winter, with West Ham United striker Carlton Cole reportedly being the top target for the professor's winter recruitment.
Carlton Cole stands at 1.91 meters tall, born in December 1983, he is in his prime and has shown significant improvement under the guidance of West Ham manager Zola. He is one of the players highly tipped to make the England squad for the South Africa World Cup. The Mirror believes that Cole is the most suitable candidate to fill the void left by Van Persie and Bendtner's injuries in Arsenal's attack.
Currently, Cole is injured and is expected to recover in about four weeks. Although Zola is reluctant to sell his key striker, who has scored 7 goals in 13 appearances this season, it would be hard for the financially struggling Hammers to refuse Wenger's offer of 15 million pounds. If Arsenal signs Cole, he will also be eligible to play in the Champions League for Arsenal, which makes him a better option compared to Chamakh.
The Daily Star reports that Barcelona prodigy Bojan has also entered Arsenal's consideration list. With Ibrahmovic's arrival and impressive performances, scoring 10 league goals already, Bojan's playing time has been severely limited, only appearing 5 times in the league. This has led to speculation that the young talent might be considering leaving Camp Nou.
Arsenal is reportedly ready to bid 8 million pounds for Bojan, making him more affordable compared to other forwards like Balotelli, Jovetic, and Chamakh. However, whether Barcelona is willing to sell another promising star to Arsenal remains questionable, as they are more likely to consider a loan deal.
Meanwhile, Wenger has ruled out the possibility of signing Van Nistelrooy in the winter due to past issues between Van Nistelrooy and former Arsenal defender Keown during his Manchester United days: "Considering our past relationship, I really think we should not start anything."
Wenger also admitted that if the team's injury situation does not improve, he may have to buy players in January: "It’s only early December, but if the injury situation remains the same in January, we will take action." However, Wenger also pointed out the difficulty in finding the right player: "It's very hard to find a world-class player who hasn't participated in European competitions and is available for purchase."
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