Skip to main content

Advertisement

Advertisement

Three top strikers but which club has scored the best deal?

Big-name strikers have been on the move this summer with Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United already spending upwards of £180 million (S$320.4 million) on bolstering their forward lines. But which one of them has got the best deal? Our Premier League analyst runs the rule over a trio of exciting signings…

Alvaro Morata running away from his markers during Chelsea's International Champions Cup match against Bayern Munich at the National Stadium on July 25, 2017 in Singapore.  Photo: International Champions Cup Singapore 2017

Alvaro Morata running away from his markers during Chelsea's International Champions Cup match against Bayern Munich at the National Stadium on July 25, 2017 in Singapore. Photo: International Champions Cup Singapore 2017

Big-name strikers have been on the move this summer with Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United already spending upwards of £180 million (S$320.4 million) on bolstering their forward lines. But which one of them has got the best deal? Our Premier League analyst runs the rule over a trio of exciting signings…

 

BEST DEAL – ALVARO MORATA (CHELSEA) £60 million rising to £70 million

Alvaro Morata (above) is an irrefutable upgrade on Diego Costa.

While I’ve always been a fan of Chelsea’s soon-to-be ex-grizzly front man, his 24-year-old replacement is a better fit for the Blues this season.

Costa may trump him on the aggression front, and we know he’s a guaranteed scorer in English football, but across other departments, I’m convinced the younger Spaniard is superior.

His age is a critical factor.

Thierry Henry’s most prolific campaigns arrived between the ages of 24 and 28, Ruud van Nistelrooy was in his pomp in the 25-27 window, and the Premier League’s leading scorer Alan Shearer never plundered more strikes than he did when he was 23, 24 and 25.

Antonio Conte has landed his man at just the right time.

While Morata’s record of 103 goals in 271 outings looks uninspiring at first glance, it’s important to consider he was never granted main-man status at Juventus or Real Madrid. He’s had to make do with bit-part roles, but now the platform is his.

These two stats from last season leap off the page, and should excite Chelsea fans:

* His 27.3 percent chance conversion rate was the highest of any of La Liga forward to score more than 10 goals

* The only man to better his output of a goal every 88.7 minutes, was a little-known Argentine called Lionel Messi

This kid can finish, and beyond the goals, Morata also suits the type of energetic side that Conte’s constructing.

His movement is more nimble and subtle than the man he’s replacing, his touch is a little more refined; Morata’s got pace, is accomplished in the air, and importantly, he’s also blessed with a personality that’s on an even keel.

Rather than worrying about when the combustible Costa will next blow-up, the Blues manager is now working with a guy who’s determined, ambitious, and happy to listen to new ideas.

He’s also a winner. Starting from the age of 17, Morata has already won five league titles, seven cups, and two Champions Leagues. Big matches do not faze him.

He didn’t come cheap at £60 million, but it feels like the holders have splashed out on a good egg.

I’ll be amazed if he’s not a roaring triumph.

 

VALUE FOR MONEY – ALEXANDRE LACAZETTE (ARSENAL) £46.5million rising to £54.6million

Scoring goals wasn’t a bothersome issue for the Gunners last season, but Arsene Wenger never had a full deck of cards to choose from up front.

The Frenchman could pick from Alexis Sanchez (a brilliant soloist), Olivier Giroud (traditional target man), Danny Welbeck (unselfish channel runner), or Lucas Perez (wide-man-cum-forward) but never a razor-sharp penalty box predator.

Alexandre Lacazette fills that gap beautifully, and gives Arsenal’s boss the nap hand he needs.

Given that he scored 37 goals in 45 appearances for a Lyon side that wasn’t blessed with top notch creativity last term - on the back of two free-scoring seasons before that - an initial fee of £46.5million looks terrific business.

I mean it’s less than Manchester City paid for Kyle Walker.

Strikers who can finish chances with either foot or head as effortlessly as Lacazette can, should never be cheaper than a decent right-back.

There will be an adaption process for Arsenal’s record signing to go through, but once he gets in tune with his new teammates I’d expect in excess of 20 goals in all competitions; probably closer to 30. He’s one of few that are born with a knack for being in the right place.

Mesut Ozil’s been crying out for a striker to make slippery runs off the shoulder of defenders, and with Sanchez possibly sticking around too, the 26-year-old should adore the quality of service he receives.

Sometimes he will be a peripheral figure. The Frenchman works hard, tries to keep the ball, and has a neat turn in his locker, but without a steady supply line, he can appear ineffective. On occasion Wenger will need a more physical presence up top, meaning Giroud and Welbeck will still get plenty of game time.

As I see it, Lacazette is one of three possible starters rather than being the must-play-every-week marquee signing.

Comparisons with Arsenal legend Ian Wright are premature, but I see the link.

If he delivers half as much positive energy as my former teammate, and chips in with regular goals, Gunners fans will soon be singing his name from the rooftops, just as they did Wrighty’s.

On paper, he’s the right signing, at the right time, at the right price.

 

OVER PRICED – ROMELU LUKAKU (MANCHESTER UNITED) £75 million rising to £90 million

I’ve heard the term ‘proven’ a lot so far this summer, and with such extraordinary sums of money changing hands, I guess that shouldn’t come as a surprise. Owners are understandably keen to avoid flushing their TV riches straight back down the drain.

Romelu Lukaku, with 85 Premier League goals in five seasons, certainly falls into the ‘proven’ category at domestic level.

He’s at a fabulous age (24) and knows where the net is, so providing the Belgian stays fit, you’d expect a return of 15-25 league goals for Manchester United in 2016-17. His contributions can help them become title contenders.

But they’ve paid way too much, haven’t they?

Even in this swollen marketplace, for £75 million rising to £90 million, my feeling is that Manchester United could have acquired a far more accomplished player.

Is he one of the best 10 strikers on the planet? Not in my view.

Is he better than a fully-fit Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the man they’ve just let go? I don’t think so.

Marcus Rashford? There’s not much in it.

We know he’s a unique talent with goals in his blood, but Lukaku still has rough edges to iron out and zero Champions League experience.

For the kind of mammoth outlay United made, I’m surprised they didn’t look towards someone who’s ‘proven’ their class with a top club at the very highest level of European football already.

Lukaku is about to discover that life at Everton, where he was the big fish in a medium-sized pond, just isn’t comparable to being the most expensive front man to ever tread the boards at the Theatre of Dreams. The pressure on his muscle bound shoulders will be intense. I hope he handles it, but there has to be a question mark.

What I will say is that he’ll suit Jose Mourinho’s approach. The United gaffer loves a rugged No 9 that throws his weight around, and he’ll be a great weapon when they unleash trademark Jose counter-attacks.

It’s a big money gamble though.

I think he’ll score goals, but is he the right long-term choice to lead Manchester United back into the big time?

I’m suspicious, but we’re about to find out.

 

About the author:

Adrian Clarke is a former Arsenal midfielder who has played at every level of the English game. Now an experienced journalist, he writes for several international publications and major football websites. Follow him @adrianjclarke

Read more of the latest in

Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.