Considering Draxler isn't a centre forward, I'd say any well known superstar striker is better value for money.

We should get Reus he would suit us perfectly. We don't need another #9 we have enough strikers in that position. We need a wing forward that can play centrally, the only world class players that can play both position are Reus and Suarez. Reus is a safer bet and would integrated much better with our current players, than Suarez.

Volante wrote:

I've seen many people who are convinced Draxler could become a world class #9 due to his ball striking skills and height. It's not that simple, but even if it were, I can't see Wenger shelling out 45m Euros for a project when he's been able to unearth top class strikers for peanuts. For 45m Euros I'd expect Wenger to sign a bonafide superstar centre forward.

Indeed. If it were that simple Schalke would have done it already. Instead he's yet to score in Bundesliga this season. I think most people can see that he has a decent frame and bags of pace, but his qualities are more about dribbling and reading the game right now. He's not a big lad and he doesn't move as a striker at all. It's a bit like suggesting Ramsey would turn out a brilliant centreforward if we just put him up front. He could probably do a job there for a while if the rest of the team was kept intact, but it's not where he's put to best use.

Reus at least used to play as an out-and-out striker for Mönchenbladbach. I can see the sense in wanting him up front.

He did? Whenever I saw him at Mönchenbladbach he was playing as a support striker in Lucien Favre's fantastic counter attacking 4411 or wide. Must have caught the wrong games.

Speaking of Mönchenbladbach, they've got Max Kruse up front taking the Bunesliga by storm. Not a typical centre forward, but a very good one. His movement is one of the best in Europe. Highly versatile player, he can play anywhere in attack and give you goals.

I haven't seen anything of Mönchengladbach this season but I've noticed the goals. Kruse is the guy who played for Freiburg last season, right?

Reus played a number of positions under Favre to be fair. There was this pretty great article a year or two back which explained why he is possibly the most complete attacking talent in Germany at the moment. It was written before he switched to Dortmund last summer. I'll see if I can find it.

Edit: Here it is.

Klaus wrote:

I haven't seen anything of Mönchengladbach this season but I've noticed the goals. Kruse is the guy who played for Freiburg last season, right?

Yep, played for Freiburg in a very interesting/unorthodox 442 system. Very good young manager they have there.

If someone on the level of Balotelli/Rooney/Aguero can't be got, Max Kruse.

Suarez for me as well. He'd win us trophies after trophies.

Gündoğan - 25-30m
Lewandowski - Free

Gündoğan - Ramsey
Walcott - Özil - Cazorla
Lewandowski

Am I the only one who thinks Lewandowski isn't much better than Giroud?

Rex wrote:

Eeugh.

This.

There isn't a significant gap between them, but an out-and-out goalscorer is all we're missing; Lewandowski has scored 30+ in his previous two seasons and already has 9 in 9 so far this season.

Lewandowski's pace opens up a lot more options than we have with Giroud. We wouldn't be as reliant on Walcott as we currently are for one thing.
Still wouldn't want Gundogan. I'd rather have me a Bender.

Bender isn't worth the money Leverkusen would ask for him. He's not special player by any means but Leverkusen will want special player cash for him. Unless the rumor of a 15m Euro release clause in 2014 are true.

In my book, Gundogan is more an allround CM a la Ramsey and Wilshere. That means, a Gundogan still needs a more defensive minded bloke alongside him. I wouldn't want either of Ramsey or Wilshere to be that player, and I don't think Gundogan is good enough defensively to be that player either.