Dosen't strike the most hardworking striker to me. Talented yes, but it would a strange buy. Would rather prefer someone like Lewandowski or even Jovetic.

Jovetic plays behind the striker and Lewandowski is not going to join arsenal.

Probably worth about 12m pounds. Right in Wenger's sweet spot. I'd get him rather than not get a striker. Benteke, Fabregas, Bender-type of summer would be an upgrade if we kept the core of the team.

12m is about all you'd pay Claudius but he's going to go for a lot more than that

Claudius believes in an all-or-nothing first buy this summer. A player whose name will warm the nutsack.

If any striker came in and scored 20 league goals I think all our nut sacks would be warm, even Y Va and Nelas. Thats what this kid has nearly done and probably will at a terrible side with no other stars. If we signed him I'd be very happy.

Warm, salty nuts.

Just watched a compilation, he's scored some good goals.

Not enough to form an opinion on him, but he looks decent and his record for Villa is excellent really.

Gamble at 20m though...

Rather go all out for Michu.

Michu is boss. I'd be pissed too if we didn't looked to him first.

He's scored exactly one goal more than Michu.

Michu is the better player of the two by a mile. It's not just about goals. By that logic Giroud is having an outstanding debut season for us and won't need to be replaced at all.

From what little I've seen of him in the Premiership, I'm not convinced this guy is super talented. Whoever has seen him a lot, what level do you anticipate him reaching?

Klaus wrote:

He's scored exactly one goal more than Michu.

Michu is the better player of the two by a mile. It's not just about goals. By that logic Giroud is having an outstanding debut season for us and won't need to be replaced at all.

Indeed, Michu is a better footballer and finisher. Swansea have stopped playing since March anyway, otherwise I expect he would have added a few more goals by now.

Another point about Benteke is that he looks like a little quicker and more forceful version of Giroud. I'm not sure that type of player is going to fit in well here. Or that it's a good idea to change the entire setup just to play to his strengths. A team like Villa have no choice because it's not like they're going to get goals out of anyone else. See if they care whether every ball is aimed for him when they're fighting to avoid relegation.

By contrast, what has impressed me with Michu this season is that he seems to be both able to play at point and drop a bit deeper to link up with the midfield. He's an unusual forward and a clinical finisher. We could probably get 20-25 league goals out of him next season. And a vastly improved attacking game to boot.

you cant judge by goals for shit teams, because shit teams usually score most of their goals through their striker because their play is so limited. if you used that logic, we would've ended up with average players like darren bent and kevin phillips years ago.

the only way to judge players is by actually knowing their attributes, athletically, mentally and footballistically.

anyway, my litmus test for new signings is: would they have a good chance of making the premier league team of the season? if the answer is anything but yes, then pass.

Kami, that's a good test. Wonder if the firm of Gazidis Law and Wenger will apply it.
This is a good summer to apply the less is more formula.

Definitely need at least one player who's in, or is a shoo-in for Team of the Year. This isn't the first year we haven't had one under Wenger though.