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After nearly four years at Arsenal, Alexandre Lacazette could potentially be on his way out of the Emirates Stadium.
The French striker was one of the last big purchases made by Gunners icon Arsene Wenger before stepping down as manager in 2018. He was also the second-most expensive signing ever made by the 71-year-old as he sanctioned a staggering €53m move to bring him to England from Olympique Lyon.
Over the course of his four years at Arsenal, the 29-year-old has made over 160 appearances for the club, scoring 65 goals and setting up a further 28. The one-time Gunners Player of the Season fired them to a UEFA Europa League final as well, which they ultimately lost to rivals, Chelsea.
End of the line for Lacazette at Arsenal?
Lacazette's contract is set to come to an end in 2022, and Arsenal are yet to offer him a new contract, leading to speculation surrounding his long-term future at the club. There have been rumours suggesting he could move to Spain or even return to his homeland if Arsenal do choose to sell him this summer.
Should the French striker depart from the club, here are five potential replacements that the Gunner can consider to replace Lacazette.
#5 Donyell Malen | PSV Eindhoven
Kicking off this list is a player that Arsenal let go of for a mere £500,000 roughly four years ago, Donyell Malen. The Dutchman was once part of Arsenal's youth academy before returning to his homeland to join PSV, where he broke onto the scene as one of the most promising young strikers in world football.
In just 14 league starts last season, Malen scored 11 goals and set up a further two. This year, he's taken it up by a few notches as the 22-year-old has racked up 17 goals and assisted seven, and has played a huge role for the Eredivisie side. Malen has also impressed in Europe, scoring five times in eight Europa League goals.
Given how much he's impressed since breaking through at PSV, it appears unlikely that Arsenal will be able to sign him on the cheap. This is also due to the fact that Malen has attracted interest from the likes of Liverpool, Barcelona, and Juventus over the last few months. However, should they manage to convince him to return to the Emirates, he could prove to be a superb replacement for Lacazette.
#4 Patson Daka | RB Salzburg
Patson Daka is one of the many names currently playing outside of Europe's top five leagues being monitored by several top clubs. The Zambian international has scored at an astonishing rate for Red Bull Salzburg in the Austrian Bundesliga and has garnered attention from Europe's elite, including the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United.
The 22-year-old has already racked up a staggering 24 goals in as many league games for Salzburg, and could be available for a fee in the region of £20m. Capable of playing all across the front line, Daka has impressed with his goal-scoring ability, close control, and excellent movement in the final third.
Zambia head coach Milutin Sredejovic once famously compared Daka to African legend Samuel Eto'o, saying that he could potentially go on to emulate what he's achieved in his career — reiterating just how highly the lightning-quick centre-forward is regarded.
Also read: 5 Best Premier League players outside the traditional top 6 clubs
#3 Abdallah Sima | Slavia Prague
Slavia Prague attacker Abdallah Sima emerged as a target for the Gunners a few months ago as a long-term plan for their front line. Sima broke onto the scene with a host of superb displays for Slavia Prague domestically and on the European front in the UEL. This season, the 19-year-old has scored 19 goals across all competitions in 35 outings, including the winner against Leicester City.
The recently-capped Senegalese international has also been tracked by Manchester United, as per a report from MEN. They claim sources close to the player suggest Sima could eventually move into the centre-forward role in future campaigns, which could benefit the Gunners greatly.
Sima is the youngest player on this list and could add a great sense of versatility to Arsenal's front line should they manage to sign him. He is contracted to Slavia Prague until the summer of 2024.
#2 Andre Silva | Eintracht Frankfurt
After a couple of disappointing campaigns following his big-money move to AC Milan, Andre Silva has kickstarted his career in the Bundesliga and is currently one of the most in-form strikers in the world. The Eintracht Frankfurt star has been in spectacular form this season, having smashed 25 league goals in 29 appearances along with four assists.
Arsenal have been linked with Silva's signature, but they could face competition for him from the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester United. While the Portuguese forward is not of a similar profile to Lacazette, he could provide them with a cutting edge in the final third with more scoring prowess in and around the 18-yard-box.
This could complement their other forwards, such as Nicolas Pepe and Bukayo Saka, very well, getting on the end of chances created for the focal point of their attack. Silva is expected to cost around €40m, and Arsenal could be getting themselves an excellent centre-forward should they opt to sign him.
#1 Odsonne Edouard | Celtic
Considering factors such as age, availability, price, and profile, Odsonne Edouard could arguably be the most ideal striker for Arsenal to pursue should Lacazette depart from the Emirates. The French striker initially moved to Celtic Park on a loan deal from Paris Saint-Germain and he's evolved into one of the most in-demand strikers in Europe since then.
Edouard topped the Scottish league's scoring charts last campaign with 22 goals in 27 games and is a multi-faceted player capable of leading an attack by himself. He can make runs in behind or play with his back to goal, giving Arsenal a lot of options.
With Edouard's contract expiring in 2022, he's garnered interest from clubs, including the Gunners and Liverpool. At just 23 years of age, Edouard could be a player who Arsenal can build their attack around for the future and could be an ideal replacement for Lacazette in the long run.
Also read: Top 5 left-footed centre-backs in world football
