A recent report from Italian news outlet Tuttosport suggests that Arsenal are considering a move for M’Baye Niang this summer. The Senegalese international has impressed in the ongoing FIFA World Cup and has already attracted some serious interest from top clubs around Europe.
Niang, 23, currently plays his club football for Torino in Italy. After being initially loaned from AC Milan last summer, Niang’s move was made permanent by Torino for a fee of €12m. However, he could once again be available in the market as the Italian outfit looks to cash in following his impressive World Cup.
Arsenal have been one of many clubs to show interest in the Senegalese international this summer. A list which includes the likes of Nice, Marseille and Monaco along with Premier League rivals Everton. But that being said, the North-London side definitely have the cash to burn with a re-designed transfer policy in recent times.
Newly appointed head coach Unai Emery has been keen on adding more experience and dynamism into the side, having already signed the likes of Sokratis and Laurent Koscielny this summer. However, Sanchez’s departure to Manchester United has left Arsenal slightly shallow in the attacking department, despite Mesut Ozil’s long-term contract extension.
Even though the acquisitions of Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang back in January provided a huge boost in attack, the Gunners still lack the presence of a dynamic winger who can complement the likes of Mkhitaryan and Ozil. Thus, M’Baye Niang comes as a viable target for the Premier League giants.
Highly known for his sheer pace on the flanks, the former AC Milan attacker made quite a name for himself in the ongoing FIFA World Cup despite seeing his team getting knocked out in the group stages. His performance against Poland, in particular, attracted a lot of attention among fans and experts alike. The 23-year-old proved to be a handful for the likes of Thiago Cionek and accomplished right-back, Lukasz Piszczek, ultimately landing a man of the match honour after scoring his first goal for Senegal just around the hour mark.
M’Baye Niang could be an exciting addition to Arsenal next season for a number of seasons. While his raw pace could create problems for any defence in the world, Niang is also blessed with decent physicality, making him a perfect fit for a physically astute Premier League. Although he might lack the qualities to replace the mercurial Alexis Sanchez, he can always prove to be a handy option at Unai Emery’s disposal next season.