Arsenal should consider signing Manchester United target Memphis Depay amid the knee injury sustained by Gabriel Jesus this month.
Jesus has been a key player for the north London giants this season with five goals and seven assists in all competitions, but he could now be sidelined for a number of weeks.
It was initially revealed that the 25-year-old could be ruled out for a month, but reports have since claimed that he could be sidelined for around three months with a surgery required.
This is probably the worst possible news for the Gunners. A new winger and a defensive midfielder are priorities for January, but the club could now be looking for a new centre-forward.
Considering the top targets, the Gunners could spend close £61 million to sign Mykhaylo Mudryk and Danilo for the first two positions. In our view, Barcelona’s Depay should be considered as cover for Jesus.
Eddie Nketiah stepped up with several stand-out displays during the back end of last season, but the Gunners need more quality up front if they are to stay in the title hunt with Manchester City.
The club paid the price for the lack of investment in another striker last winter. They should not derail their title prospects by doing the same during the back end of the current campaign.
Depay is about to enter the final six months of his contract and it has already been claimed that he could be available for around £4.3m. He could be a shrewd piece of signing for Arsenal.
Manchester United are currently most interested in the Dutch international but in our opinion, the Gunners should look at beating the Red Devils to the services of the 28-year-old.
Depay may not provide the same work rate as Jesus up front but he can make key goal contributions. He has registered a goal or an assist for Barcelona in every 164 minutes thus far.
His wages are on the higher side at £173,000-a-week, but he could prove a quality stop-gap signing for the Gunners as Jesus recuperates from his injury and returns to full fitness.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com and Capology.com
