Gary Lineker backs Arsenal to sign £20m ‘unproven’ striker after Man Utd defeat
Gary Lineker has urged Arsenal to target Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap following their FA Cup exit to Manchester United.
Mikel Arteta is now facing fresh calls to sign a new forward in the January transfer window after the Gunners squandered several chances during their defeat to United on penalties at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
Arsenal have a long-standing interest in Alexander Isak, although Newcastle United are said to be demanding £150 million for the Sweden international, who has scored 10 goals in his last nine appearances.
Lineker, however, has suggested that Arsenal should identify a striker who offers potential and named 21-year-old Delap, who Ipswich signed for £20m and has scored eight goals in the Premier League this season, as a potential option for Arteta’s side.
‘I said it at the beginning of the season, I felt that’s what they [Arsenal] needed and I think that would possibly cost them the league not investing in that position,’ Alan Shearer said during BBC Sport’s post-match analysis of Arsenal’s defeat to United.
Lineker replied: ‘It’s probably been wanting someone for some time a player in that position.’
Micah Richards then suggested that Arsenal should sign a striker who could make an immediate impact such as Victor Osimhen, who came close to joining Chelsea last summer.
‘It’s hard, you can’t just go out and get a No.9, there’s not that many in world football,’ Richards said.
‘The one I looked at as maybe short term was Osimhen. The problems he’s had at Napoli, he’s been allowed to go on loan in Türkiye.
‘But he’s a proven goalscorer at that level, in the Champions League as well.
‘Obviously, I’m sure Arsenal would like to have someone like Isak.’
Lineker then said: ‘Or they could go for a young, up-and-coming one, because once they’re proven you can’t get them.
‘But someone like Delap I see has got a real something about him.’
Richards replied: ‘I agree with that but they need someone now also.
‘We don’t know where Delap is going to go, I really rate him, I don’t want to be disrespectful to anyone.
‘I think with Arsenal they’re always thinking about, ‘what next?’. It’s now, now is the time to shine.
‘He’s been at Arsenal a long time, Arteta. He’s won the FA Cup, the play has been good, I think expected goals from open play has gone down, they’ve become too predictable, obviously losing [Bukayo] Saka and [Ethan] Nwaneri as well.
‘At times I just feel that if they had a striker, who knows where the net is, knows the movements, doesn’t even have to play well, how many times have we talked about [Erling] Haaland where he’s not even been in the game, he gets a chance and scores.’
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