Arsenal: Andre Silva Pleasantly Unrealistic Transfer Option

Arsenal may be facing a quiet January window, but that won’t stop the rumor from dropping in. Andre Silva in particular is so pleasant, yet unrealistic.

When Arsene Wenger comes out and says “nope, we ain’t shopping in January,” you know that Arsenal faces a quiet winter month. But given that the transfer window is open and scouts are always everywhere, that won’t stop the little birdies from chirping pleasant nothings about who the Gunners are (not) going to sign.

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Andre Silva has been scouted profusely by just about everyone, but reports in Portugal indicate that the Gunners have had their representation in the crowd.

That’s exciting, but as it always is with January rumors, we have to stay cautiously optimistic, and even that is a dicey endeavor.

Silva is really growing into his own, scoring seven goals in Primeira Liga and a further five in the Champions League. He has risen to prominence incredibly quickly both on a club and international level.

There is always going to be this natural inclination for Gooner’s to gravitate towards the idea of a new striker. Mainly because we spent so long at the whims of Olivier Giroud. For as much as I love the big man, everyone needs a second option and we didn’t have it.

It left the Gunners often stranded and without hope of anything changing.

This year has been totally different. We have options. Lots of them. From Giroud to Alexis to Lucas, Wenger has his fair share of choices regarding who to field at the No. 9 position.

And Danny Welbeck is coming back soon.

That’s four, count them, four options that Le Prof has to play with. Does he really need a fifth?

Well, he does, but more on that later. Let’s deal with the harsh reality first – Andre Silva is not coming to Arsenal in January. I am obviously plenty happy to be proven wrong, but barring something catastrophic, he isn’t coming in the summer either.

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We just bought Lucas, Welbz hasn’t had his fair shot at being a full-fledged front man and Alexis is really coming into his own. Silva would be confined to a bench life or playing with the reserves.

Not exactly what he is looking for.

But let’s get back to the whole ‘does he need a fifth option’ question. Because I’m here to dreamily opine that he does. Girooud is getting older, Alexis seems committed but could want out, Welbeck has had a fair amount of chances and has yet to latch on and Lucas seems unhappy with his role and could push for an early exit.

That’s my pessimistic look on our striker corps. Alexis will probably stay and Giroud still has a year or so left. But Lucas and Welbeck are question marks.

Plus, looking ahead to the future, Chuba Akpom has hit snag after snag and eventually we have to start thinking about long term solutions. We have talented young teenagers in the youth system, but an infusion of foreign dignity like Silva could be the necessary bridge.

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Don’t get your hopes up. Someone else may come around long before the Gunners to snap up this Portuguese talent. But if he makes it until the summer and Welbeck proves better out wide and Lucas forces his way out, maybe it’s not so unrealistic after all.