With January just around the corner, the transfer rumors market is heating up. However, even though Arsenal do seem like a team in need of a striker, the talk about Diego Costa doesn’t seem very likely. The Atletico Madrid front man is quite costly, and probably isn’t interested in playing second fiddle to anyone.
The Brazilian striker has a release clause of £32 million, which already makes it unlikely to see Arsenal spend so much money in the middle of the season. Why? Costa won’t be able to pay in the Champions League for starters. The second reason has something to do with him – arriving at Arsenal doesn’t guarantee him a starting spot, and Olivier Giroud himself won’t be too happy about becoming a bench player all of a sudden.
Costa has been leading Altetico to a phenomenal season, scoring 21 goals in all competition. They’re tied with Barcelona at the top of the Premier League and had no problem advancing into the next round in the Champions League, facing AC Milan in the round of 16. Arsenal could certainly use his goals and other skills, as it seems they’re slightly slowing down reaching the halfway mark of the season.
The problem is putting the pieces together. Is Arsene Wenger going to play with two strikers? Unlikely. It’s rarely happened in the past with him and probably won’t be starting now. Costa might be a bit more versatile than Giroud, meaning he can play as a supporting striker as well, but it also means taking out someone from the midfield, which Wenger might not be so pleased to do.
There’s also the thought of Atletico not being too happy about selling their best player which no one seems to consider, or Diego Costa wanting to see things through, at least this season with his current club. Arsenal might be the name on everyone’s lips when it comes to the controversial striker, but it doesn’t make them any closer to signing him than before.