Arsecast presenter Andrew Mangan has suggested that one Arsenal loanee could find a place in the first-team next season.
The exit of Eddie Nketiah could create room for Mika Biereth at Arsenal.
Arsenal are open to cashing-in on Nketiah in the upcoming summer transfer window. With Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, and Leandro Trossard all available to lead the line for the Gunners, there is an argument that Mikel Arteta does not need to sign a direct replacement for the Hale End academy graduate if he does depart.
However, if the 24-year-old striker does leave the Emirates Stadium this summer, then that could create room in the first-team squad for Biereth.
The 21-year-old striker is currently in fine form whilst he is plying his trade on loan with Austrian outfit Sturm Graz. The Dane has netted 14 times this season, including his stint with Motherwell in the first half of the campaign.
Arsenal have not yet made a firm decision on what to do with Biereth in the summer. However, he is showing that he has plenty of potential, and he is certainly doing all that could be asked of him to impress whilst on loan.
Could Mika Biereth replace Eddie Nketiah at Arsenal?
Arsecast Extra podcast host Andrew Mangan believes that, if Nketiah does indeed leave the club, then Biereth may well be handed the opportunity to take up a rotational role in the squad, providing some additional strength in depth. Of course, this would be a cost-effective move to say the least, as the Denmark under-21s international is already on the books at Arsenal.
Mangan said, “all the chat about, you know, Arsenal signing another forward…maybe the other aspect of this situation is Eddie Nketiah, who we’ve also spoken about, whose minutes over the course of the last three/four months have really dwindled…being realistic, from his perspective, is this summer the right time for an Eddie Nketiah move? I would say yes, it probably is. Do you then need to have that third striker, that third forward, in your squad? Could he [Biereth] be that guy?”
It would be a big ask for Biereth to step up to the level currently expected at Arsenal, as with all due respect, competing with Sturm Graz in the Austrian Bundesliga is not directly comparable. However, he has earned the right to be given a chance, in pre-season at the very least, to show what he can do in red and white.
Even if it doesn’t work out for Biereth at Arsenal, he has boosted his profile and value hugely by virtue of his exploits on loan. As such, the Gunners should be able to fetch decent price for him if they do decide to move him on, and he won’t be short of suitors.