Transfer news: Arsenal could turn to Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez to provide cover for Olivier Giroud
The Mexican is unsettled at Old Trafford after finding his first team chances limited with Arsene Wenger keen to add a new striker to his squad
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Your support makes all the difference.Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez has emerged as a reported target for Arsenal as they continue their search for a striker to provide cover for Olivier Giroud.
The Frenchman has been in lethal form so far this season, having netted five times in the Premier League and three further times in other competition. However, he has started all but two of their matches this campaign and fans are concerned that should anything happen to the striker, there is inadequate cover to maintain their Premier League title challenge.
Having failed in his attempts to sign Liverpool striker Luis Suarez in the summer, Wenger has seen hopes of signing Fernando Llorente seem to disappear after Juventus’ director general Giuseppe Marotta said he would not be leaving Italy anytime soon.
However, 'Chicharito' has already spoken that he could look to leave Old Trafford if first team opportunities remain hard to come by – although he didn’t do himself any favours when he missed from six-yards out after David Moyes handed him a rare start in their Champions League draw with Real Sociedad.
The Gunners have had Hernandez scouted extensively as well as his team-mate Wayne Rooney, although the prime target for Wenger remains Suarez. The 64-year-old Frenchman appears to have accepted that the Reds will not sell Suarez in January, and remain determined to qualify for the Champions League in an effort to keep him at Anfield in the summer.
Hernandez is renowned for his goalscoring instinct, which has seen him score 54 times for United in 125 appearances – the majority of which have come from the substitute’s bench.
He caused a stir last week when his official Twitter account retweeted a story in which his Mexican team-mate Carlos Vela called for him to seek a move away from the United in search of regular action.
Arsenal are also reported to be monitoring Brazilian right-back Fabinho, who is currently on-loan with AS Monaco from Rio Ave. His performances in Ligue 1 this season have caught the eye of the Gunners’ former defender and French-based scout Gilles Grimandi.
Concerns have arisen over the future of current defender Bacary Sagna, who is stalling on signing a new contract with his current deal set to expire at the end of the season. Such is Wenger’s policy of offering just a one-year extension when a player exceeds 30-years of age, the 30-year-old could find himself on his way out of the Emirates if he fails to agree a new deal.
Fellow Brazilians Boschilia and Nathan, who scored 11 goals between them at the Fifa Under-17 World Cup which is currently taking place in the United Arab Emirates – Brazil were knocked out in the quarter-finals by today’s finalist Mexico – with chief scout Steve Rowley keeping tabs on the young duo.
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