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Wenger Lands In Brazil To Scout Key Trio Of Targets

By on June 12, 2014

Arsene Wenger has landed in Brazil and reports claim his main objective is to find himself a new striker, with Mario Balotelli, Mario Mandzukic and Karim Benzema all on his radar.

We managed to get by with just Olivier Giroud last season but there’s little doubt we need to sign at least one top class striker this summer if we want to really challenge for the title next season, and it seems the boss is going to use his presence in Brazil to scout three of his top targets.

Arsene is at the World Cup working as a French TV pundit, so he’ll have the perfect opportunity to run-the-rule over long-term target Karim Benzema. The Real Madrid hitman has been linked with a move to the Emirates for some time and with the European champions hoping to sign Luis Suarez this summer, Benzema could be on the market.

Although Mandzukic is suspended for tonight’s World Cup opener against Brazil, the 27-year-old will return for Croatia’s final two group games and the Telegraph claim Arsene will be watching on with a keen eye.

Mandzukic has confirmed he’s set to leave Bayern Munich after falling out-of-favour under Pep Guardiola and Arsenal are just of several clubs who are interested in offering him a fresh start.

The final name on Wenger’s hitlist is AC Milan’s controversial hitman Mario Balotelli. The 23-year-old will face-up against England on Saturday night so we’ll have the perfect opportunity to see how he fares against Premier League opposition.

Of course we know this already as Balotelli spent two and a half years with Manchester City before joining AC Milan in January 2013, but he’s been tipped to leave Italy this summer after receiving racial abuse and Arsenal have been linked in recent weeks.

Of the three, Benzema would be my preferred option as not only is he the most established striker, I think he’d fit in best with our style of play. However, he’ll also be the most difficult and expensive to purchase.

Balotelli is a huge talent and if Arsene could curb his wild-side, then we’d have a superb player. But trouble just seems to follow him wherever he goes and his signing is just as likely to end up a disaster as it is a triumph.

Mandzukic doesn’t excite me. He’s got a decent goal-scoring record for Bayern but he’s too much like Giroud. We need a pacey striker who offers something different, and the Croatian international isn’t the one for me.

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