What a week it’s been for Arsenal striker Victor Gokeres. The 27-year-old has emerged as Sweden’s savior in recent days after a mixed first season at the Emirates.
The former Sporting CP man, who failed to score at all in regular World Cup qualifying, scored a hat-trick in particular as Graham Potter’s side defeated Ukraine in the play-off semi-finals, setting up a make-or-break showdown with Robert Lewandowski’s Poland on Tuesday night.
After a thrilling encounter, it was Gokeres who gave his all to help his country qualify for this summer’s World Cup, clinching a spot for the United States with a 3-2 victory.
As for the Gunners, meanwhile, they will be hoping this is a springboard for the £63.5m striker heading into the climax of the season, but the north London side are already eyeing a potential contender for that No.9 role ahead of the summer.
Latest updates on Arsenal’s search for a new striker
With Gabriel Jesus set to leave the club and Kai Havertz having been plagued by injuries in recent seasons, there are certainly benefits to bringing in a new striker this summer.
Indeed, despite scoring 97 goals in just 102 games back in Lisbon, Gokeres hasn’t completely ruined it, with the former Coventry City star having scored just 11 goals in the Premier League so far.
Julian Alvarez is the obvious target to replace Arsenal’s number 14, but recent reports suggest other targets are also on the table.
According to Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, the Gunners are monitoring Bayer Leverkusen sensation Christian Kofane, with the 19-year-old impressing during the two sides’ recent Champions League encounter.
According to Plettenberg, Mikel Arteta’s side are one of “a number” of English clubs interested in the teenager, although Real Madrid are also currently involved.
In terms of money, Bundesliga sides are likely to ask for up to 70 million euros (approximately 6 billion yen) if they are looking to raise money this summer, and it seems certain that offers in the region will be accepted.
Why Kofane could be a dream Gokeres replacement for Arsenal
The search for a new striker at the Emirates lasted a long summer, with rumors including Alexander Isak, Benjamin Sesko and Hugo Ekitike before Andrea Berta settled on Gokeres.
The Swede has outscored both Sesco and Isak in the league this season, and is level with Ekitike in terms of assists, although the exciting Frenchman has outscored the Arsenal player (4-0).
Wayne Rooney believes both the Gunners and Manchester United should have looked to sign Ekitike instead of Gokeres and Sesco, with the former England captain praising the 23-year-old as one of the “best signings in the Premier League”.
Unfortunately, while the former Eintracht Frankfurt man is currently shining at Anfield, Arteta and Berta could sign Kofane as the next best player, with the Leverkusen youngster being likened to Ekitike on the Bundesliga’s official website.
The Cameroonian, who is only 19 years old, only signed for Spain’s second-tier side Albacete last summer and has made rapid progress since scoring 15 goals and assisting in his first 39 games in Germany.
Hailed as “one of Europe’s most exciting strikers” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Kofane looked the more active of the pair most recently when Leverkusen faced Gokeres and Arsenal in the Champions League.
In fact, the £60 million starlet was particularly impressive in the first leg against the hosts, completing 100 per cent of his dribbles, boasting a passing accuracy of 94 per cent and making three key passes, proving to be a force to be reckoned with for the almost unbreakable Gabriel and William Saliba.
Kofane vs Arsenal | ||
|---|---|---|
1st leg | status | 2nd leg |
90 | minutes | 90 |
33 | touch | 29 |
94% | Pass rate | 89% |
3 | key pass | 0 |
2/2 | It was successful. dribble | 0 |
2 | shot | 3 |
6 | ball lost | 4 |
5/8 | ground duel | 1/3 |
1/3 | aerial duel | 4/9 |
Even as a teenager, there was a maturity to his game that Gokeres didn’t seem to have. In this match, the Scandinavian striker recorded just 21 touches, recorded a passing accuracy of 69%, provided one important pass and failed to record a single dribble attempt.
The 27-year-old Gokeres was expected to hit the ground running right away, but there is already a feeling the Gunners should be looking for a replacement in the near future.
Kofane may be inexperienced, but his attributes will make him a real rival for the Swede over the next few years, and eventually usurp Arsenal’s No. 9 spot.
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