Arsenal should make a move for £90m attacker now after seeing what Liverpool are doing
Liverpool have made an offer to sign Yankuba Minteh from Brighton.
Brighton turned down the initial £50million bid for the 22-year-old winger, who is currently injured.
Eyebrows might be raised about going for a player who is expected to be out for another two months, but Liverpool are looking at the long-term.
They’re willing to make a move for a player who can’t play right away but who they believe is the right fit for the right wing after Mohamed Salah’s departure.
Manchester United are doing similar in their pursuit of another injured Brighton player, Carlos Baleba.
The 22-year-old is recovering from an ankle injury but isn’t expected to be out much longer.
Arsenal should be taking note.
Arsenal should make a move for Eli-Junior Kroupi even though he is injured
Eli Junior Kroupi has been on Arsenal’s radar all summer.
The Bournemouth forward was identified as a key attacking target before picking up an injury that ruled him out for several months.
His £90million price tag and his fitness situation caused Arsenal to look elsewhere and the pursuit has gone quiet since.
But after seeing Liverpool move for Minteh despite his injury, Arsenal should rethink their stance on Kroupi.
Still just 19 years old, Kroupi is one of the most exciting young attackers in Europe, and a player Mikel Arteta is a huge fan of.
And that’s not just because he won Arsenal the league with his goal against Manchester City.
Kroupi is in the same sort of second-striker mould as Julian Alvarez and is best suited playing off of a traditional centre-forward.
He can also play as the number nine or off the left, but his real strength is his finishing ability — something Arsenal arguably lack.
His injury, while frustrating, doesn’t change what he is or what he will be.
If anything, signing him now, while he’s unavailable and before other clubs re-enter the picture, could represent better value than waiting until January when he is fit and the price only goes up.
Arsenal could offer Bournemouth Ethan Nwaneri on loan
Arsenal also have a sweetener they can offer that will give them an advantage in pursuing Kroupi.
The Gunners have decided to loan Ethan Nwaneri rather than sell him permanently, and several clubs are interested, including Premier League sides.
Bournemouth could be the perfect destination for him in terms of his development — there are clear similarities between the two players.
Offering Nwaneri on loan to Bournemouth as part of a deal for Kroupi could benefit everyone.
Bournemouth get a big fee and a talented young player to replace some of the ball-striking quality they lose without Kroupi. Arsenal get their attacker. And Nwaneri gets the regular minutes he needs in the Premier League.
This transfer market stuff is easy, Andrea Berta!
