Wenger Eyes Cheaper Alternative To Benzema & Benteke As Boss Widens Striker Search

Although the summer transfer window is officially closed that doesn’t stop clubs working hard behind the scenes to prepare for future signings, so we’ll keep you up-to-date with all the latest gossip. Today, Arsene Wenger widens his striker search.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has renewed his interest in Romanian hitman Ciprian Marica as he looks for cheaper alternatives to big-money targets Karim Benzema and Christian Benteke, according to the Daily Mail.

The Gunners have made a superb start to the season and currently boast a four-point lead at the top of the Premier League table after beating Southampton 2-0 at the Emirates on Saturday.

However, despite our impressive start Arsene Wenger is being tipped to add to his strike-force when the transfer window re-opens as he’s currently heavily reliant on Olivier Giroud up front. Lukas Podolski and Theo Walcott have returned to training following long injury lay-offs but neither are really capable of filling in up top if Giroud was to get a serious injury.

Therefore, the Mail claim Wenger is scouring the world for potential strike targets and remains interested in Real Madrid’s Benzema and Aston Villa’s Benteke – who would set us back at least £28m and interested the Frenchman in the summer.

But the Gunners boss is also understood to be looking for cheaper alternatives to the big-money duo and is considering a move for Romanian international Marica, who was also believed to be on his radar a few months back before the 27-year-old moved to Getafe.

Maricia was available on a free transfer in the summer but Wenger passed up the opportunity to sign him so it’s intriguing that the Mail think he would now renew his interest when the striker will command a transfer fee. Personally, I just don’t see it happening but you never know.

I also think that Wenger will only sign a striker in January that’s in the ‘world class’ bracket as he’s finally got the money to spend and will only bring someone in who could make a real impact on the first team. Benzema or Benteke are in that category but I’m not sure either will be available this winter.

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