I think Costa will go to Chelsea. The most realistic chance we have to sign a top striker is Mandzukic in my opinion. With Lewandowski going to Bayern, we can offer Mandzukic first team football playing in the Champions League. I don't think he'll come on the cheap but I reckon we could get him for under 30m
Some reports that we'll go for Serge Aurier from Toulouse if Sagna doesn't sign. Also if we don't get Lars Bender, would anybody be up for a bid for Gustavo from Wolfsburg ? He can also play at CB
if we were ever interested in Gustavo, we would've gotten him last year when he was going for less than 10m.
Wenger came out and said he was unaware Remy was at the ground. Apparently he was there as a guest of Sagna.
Top of the list is a DM who is tall enough to defend at corners and set-pieces, so that we do not have to play a striker who is good in the air. We need a replacement for Sagna who is also capable of playing CB, whether he goes or stays. I am in two minds about a striker. I am not enthused about many of the second tier names mentioned here. I don't see why Giroud/Walcott/Gnabry/Podolski can't be good enough.
Because out of that lot, Giroud is the only real CF. Wenger does not trust Podolski as a CF, and we need Walcott out wide for his pace.
Now that Cardiff have been relegated, I would like us to buy Steven Caulker. A young CB who for me, has huge potential. No idea why the Spuds got rid of him. Only 22, and can be a great back up for Kos and Mert.
The list of top strikers is pretty small, and the list of feasible options is even smaller. I guess it depends on who is classed as top - of all the top goalscorers in the big leagues, who would fit the bill?
Hmm, I've seen teams turn very unlikely players into great striker set ups. I don't see why we cant come up with some tactical plan that allows a combination of those 4 to be good enough. Id also like to see Ox tried at striker. He has a great eye for goal and a good shot on him. I don't want another year of settling in some striker who has to get used to Arsenal and the PL.
I think it's glaringly obvious we need another striker. Whether you think our current lot are good enough or not is irrelevant, we need more depth in the cf position. Your comments though about a tall dm for defending set pieces is a good shout though. Giroud defends a large amount of set pieces taken against us and if we want to play with a different type of striker we need other large players to take that responsibility from him.