Arsenal open talks with two strikers: Endrick or wildcard option?

Analysis

Tom Weber | Writer

Arsenal have initiated contact for the possible signing of Real Madrid striker Endrick and Monza sensation Gustavo Varela.

The Gunners are in the market for a new centre-forward as speculation about the future of Viktor Gyokeres continues unabated. The Sweden international is struggling to make an impact this season and is reportedly growing frustrated.

Arsenal are believed to be open to offloading the 28-year-old in 2027, which would necessitate the signing of a suitable replacement. Numerous names have swirled around in recent weeks, ranging from established options to young up-and-comers.

The likes of Julian Alvarez, Nicolo Tresoldi and Paris Brunner have been associated with a move to Arsenal, while summer target Eli Kroupi has returned from a lengthy injury lay-off and will put himself in contention as well if he can recapture his form from last season.

Another name that has been linked on-and-off with Arsenal is Endrick. The Real Madrid youngster could have moved clubs in the summer, but new manager Jose Mourinho blocked his exit. Despite this, regular minutes have been hard to come by.

Endrick or Varela?

The 20-year-old has racked up just 107 minutes of action this term, and he was an unused substitute in Real Madrid's El Clasico win over Barcelona last week. Speculation over his future has been almost ever-present.

While Mourinho has insisted that he will "fight" anyone who tries to sign Endrick next year, one of the player's representatives recently pushed back and made it clear that "it's a fluid process" where a lot can still change ahead of January.

"He loves Madrid, he loves the team and his teammates, but at the end of the day, when you think about the lifespan of a career, it’s short, and he wants to maximise it," Roc Nation president Michael Yormack said. "I think his first choice would be to stay at Real Madrid, but he’s got to play."

According to TEAMtalk, Arsenal are in ongoing contact with Endrick's entourage, having already shown an interest in the summer. The Brazil international's representatives are said to be actively exploring January opportunities.

It is claimed that the Gunners could accept a loan formula, but only if it includes the possibility of making the deal permanent. However, Real Madrid don't want to entertain the idea of selling Endrick and would favour a straight loan if the player starts pushing for a move.

Consequently, they would prefer to do business with AC Milan or AS Roma, who are willing to take the 20-year-old on board for six months and then send him back. Meanwhile, Arsenal have also begun making moves for an alternative option.

Reports in Italy have repeatedly insisted in recent weeks that the Premier League champions have taken a liking to Monza hitman Gustavo Varela, who has started the season in red-hot form after joining from Benfica.

The 21-year-old has bagged 10 goals in nine games, including eight in eight in Serie A. He is the current flavour of the month in Italy and is being closely monitored by numerous big-hitters like Napoli and Arsenal.

Calciomercato claims that the Gunners have "made enquiries" for the Portugal youth international with a view to potentially signing him, although it is unclear whether they would also look to bring him in in January.

One the face of it, Varela would be much more of a wildcard option than Endrick. Despite being slightly older, he has less senior experience and has yet to play at a truly elite level.

However, it is worth bearing in mind that the Premier League is very different to LaLiga and Serie A. Endrick has a stocky build, but he is not the tallest, whereas Varela is much of a physical presence and believed to be ideally suited to English football.

At the end of the day, both would represent a major risk because of their youth, and it seems doubtful that either will end up at Arsenal in January. Given that the club are competing on multiple fronts, they surely won't experiment with relatively unproven strikers mid-season.