Arsenal
Arsenal Hope To Seal €30m Striker Deal
Arsenal are ready to splash €30m on Benfica ace Rodrigo but could be frustrated in their attempts to sign the striker due to complicated ownership rights
As we approach the opening of the summer window clubs will be intensifying their efforts in the transfer market so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip. Today, Gooner Mac brings us news of Arsenal’s interest in Rodrigo.
Arsenal are ready to splash €30m on Benfica ace Rodrigo but could be frustrated in their attempts to sign the striker due to complicated ownership rights, according to reports today.
Arsene Wenger is widely expected to bring in another front-man this summer to offer to support to Olivier Giroud next year after being heavily reliant on the Frenchman last season. A whole host of names have been touted as potential targets in recent weeks but the latest to be linked is Benfica hitman Rodrigo.
The Daily Star claim that Arsenal chiefs are hopeful of agreeing a €30m (£24m) deal to bring the 23-year-old to the Emirates Stadium this summer. However, it’s not going to be a straightforward transfer.
Rodrigo’s rights are held by a private investment group called Meriton Capital Limited – who are owned by new Valencia owner Peter Lim – and the businessman is keen for his client to move to Spain this summer.
So Lim will have to decide whether to cash-in now and take Arsenal’s €30m offer to turn a quick profit, or keep hold of Rodrigo and have him spearhead the Valencia attack next season.
I’m not a fan of these types of ownership agreements and I can completely understand why the FA doesn’t allow any player in British football to be owned by a private investment company.
Rodrigo is a fine player and his 11 goals in 25 games helped Benfica lift the Portuguese Primeira Liga last season, but I’d steer clear of him and move on to other targets. He’s simply not worth the hassle and €30m (£24m) sounds like a lot of money to pay for a player relatively unproven outside of Portugal.
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There are better strikers out there who are cheaper and for more established, plus they don’t come with the baggage Rodrigo comes with due to his ownership arrangements. So I hope Wenger ditches this pursuit and switches his focus to the likes of Karim Benzema, Wilfried Bony or even Loic Remy.
