Paul Merson has told Arsenal to try and sign Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku in this summer's transfer window.
Lukaku established himself as one of Europe's most prolific centre-forwards during his two-year stint with Serie A giants Inter Milan before sealing a club-record £97.5million move to Stamford Bridge last summer. However, the Belgian international struggled for consistency, netting just eight Premier League goals throughout the 2021/22 campaign.
The 29-year-old has been linked with a return to the Nerazzurri in recent times, something he refused to rule out in a controversial interview back in December 2021, but former Gunner Merson has told his old side to make a £60million bid for the former Manchester United frontman. Writing in The Daily Star, he said: “Arsenal should make a cheeky £60m bid for Romelu Lukaku this summer.
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"Because if Chelsea are so desperate to let him go that they’re talking about loaning him to Inter Milan, surely they would take the money! Arsenal haven’t had someone who is big and strong and dynamic like that since Kevin Campbell.
"I know he hasn’t scored a lot of goals this season but Lukaku is an elite goalscorer. Arsenal play great football up to the edge of the box but then it often fizzles out.
"Arsenal go through the lines. They want their striker on the edge of the box. It would suit him. They could roll it into him and he doesn’t have to get involved in the build-up too much.
"He doesn’t have to come too short and help build the play. I would be chasing Lukaku hard if I was Arsenal. I’d be trying my hardest. You don’t have to do too much running at Arsenal. The way they play you want the centre forward to be up front and stay there.
"Arsenal have runners who could get in behind him and supply him with crosses. I would like to think Arsenal is a club Lukaku would consider. They’re talking about him going back to Inter Milan but Arsenal are as big a club as Inter. Arsenal may not be in the Champions League next season, but Inter are not winning it are they?”
