Aubameyang, Dzeko and the top 10 strikers being hunted in the January transfer window
Strikers: they can make or break you. At the moment, clubs are breaking the bank for them.
As we enter the last week of the transfer window, it’s expected we will see an all-out assault on attackers as desperation levels reach critical and the game playing between boardrooms reaches its climax.
But who are the frontmen we can expect to see arrive inside the next seven days Here’s our top 10.
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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Sellers: Borussia Dortmund
Buyers: Arsenal
Value: £52m
A deal to bring the temperamental striker to Arsenal may be done as soon as Friday, according to reports in Germany. Arsene Wenger can’t afford to hang around. To miss out on the Champions League again would be a disaster.
Thomas Lemar
Sellers: Monaco
Buyers: Liverpool, Arsenal
Value: £72m
Liverpool are in the driving seat but it’s unclear if they will have to wait until the summer to get their hands on the 22-year-old. Big money is being spoken of for the attacker, with Arsenal still not out of the running. More of a forward than an out-and-out striker.
Moussa Dembele
Sellers: Celtic
Buyers: Brighton, Newcastle, Everton, Crystal Palace
Value: £18m
Brendan Rodgers is already said to be preparing for life without his top striker, but where is he going? That seems to be unclear. Brighton were said to have agreed a fee at the start of January but that’s gone cold. Everton and Newcastle need a forward but with the former Fulham player knows London well so a move to Palace may be preferred.
Edin Dzeko
Sellers: Roma
Buyers: Chelsea
Value: £28m
You do have to wonder about Chelsea’s transfer policy this window, with the no-smoke-without-fire links to Andy Carroll and bizarrely Peter Crouch. Dzeko, 31, is far from world class but will do a job for them as Antonio Conte’s spending has been reigned in.
Guido Carrillo
Sellers: Monaco
Buyers: Southampton
Value: £19.1m
This one looks imminent. Southampton need goals and quickly, and they say the Argentinian – considering everyone knows they have just pocketed £75m for Virgil Van Dijk – could be good value at just over £19m. He played under Mauricio Pellegrino at Estudiante, so he knows what he’s getting.
Nicolai Jorgensen
Sellers: Feyenoord
Buyers: Newcastle, Everton
Value: £18m
The Dutch club want £20m, Newcastle have reportedly offered just £12m. If a deal’s to be done, there’s got to be a fair bit of give-and-take. Wages won’t be a problem, but with Everton watching on the Toon Army may want to act quickly.
Daniel Sturridge
Sellers: Liverpool
Buyers: Inter, Sevilla, Southampton,
Value: Loan.
It’s a big moment in Daniel Sturridge’s career. He’s got to get this move right and weigh it all up – will he play enough? Will he have to play too much? His World Cup hopes depend on finding the right balance, wherever he goes.
Islam Slimani
Sellers: Leicester City
Buyers: Newcastle
Value: £19m
Unsurprisingly, it takes a lot for Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley to write his name on a cheque. So it’s no shock he isn’t keen on breaking the club’s transfer record to land Islam Slimani. Will Rafa Benitez get his way?
Michy Batshuayi
Sellers: Chelsea
Buyers: Newcastle, Sevilla
Value: Loan
His face just doesn’t seem to fit at Stamford Bridge, and if Edin Dzeko signs then the writing is on the wall. Sevilla has reportedly cooled their interest, and you get the feeling it will take a lot of sweet talking from Rafa Benitez to see him switch to St James’ Park.
Javier Hernandez
Sellers: West Ham
Buyers: Newcastle United, West Brom
Value: £12m
Just five months after signing, it seems the West Ham bubble has burst for the Little Pea. It appears the Fox in the Box is no longer in fashion, but there are a number of clubs looking to take advantage of his predatory instinct in front of goal.
