Arsenal move closer to Adrian Lopez transfer deal

Details: Written by Barnaby Merrill; Published: Wednesday, 02 January 2013 17:25

Arsenal are in talks to sign Atletico Madrid's versatile forward Adrian Lopez for a fee of around 11.5 million and there are further reports that Arsene Wenger wants the Spaniard in the team in time for Manchester City's visit in two week's time.

Second best?

Adrian is of course in the shadow of Radamel Falcao, one of the best strikers in the world at the moment.

This has led to Adrian playing on the wing or just behind him for Atletico, though this season he's been on the bench due to a contract dispute (sounds familiar).

His position last season didn't stop him scoring 19 times last season, including 11 in Atletico's successful Europa League campaign.

He can play anywhere across the front three, and his biggest attribute is his movement and technique, likened to that of David Villa, another Arsenal target. He has the advantage of youth, though his finishing is questionable. That can be worked on, however, as Walcott has proved recently.

Adrian isn't second best, and he has the potential to become a world-class player in the next couple of years, though this isn't a guarantee. It all depends how he settles in, though Arsenal are the best place to nurture his ability.

That's not to call him a 'project', he's a good enough player already. I've seen him be written off recently, but the comments were from an Atletico fan, and reminded me of views held about Walcott when he seemed to be off.

The deal is close, and only time will tell how it works out. Let's hope Adrian really does become the "next David Villa", as he's been labelled since he appeared for Spain U-19s.

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Comments

#45 Sagna 2013-01-05 10:26

Abate is available..can we make a move for him & sell Sagna....he is no more gopd

+1 #44 Greg Ero 2013-01-05 09:31

That man wenger needs a doctor because I think he is sick and the board member refuse to notice this and all he want to do is to produce next Messi, Fabregas, Henry,RVP,Song,adaba yor, Kolo Toure,to another big club to win trophy and I don't think he need happiness and I don't see the reason why we are paying money watching this man and is useless set of players. He train player from a small fish and sale them like a Cat fish.

#43 Alhassan S Conteh 2013-01-04 16:26

I strongly believe Wenger is not going to do any worthy signing as far as January window is concern, he prefer to sell and cannot do any quality replacement as he is looking forward to buying cheep players. My fellow gunners stop paying you cash to watch Wenger!s heart breaking matches only then he can see his nakedness.With this crop of players without any sober addition ,champions league we are out 1st rounds.Cheers from S/Leone

+3 #42 Orphal Mandy 2013-01-04 16:16

Wenger is afraid of buying top players because he knows that such players are high profile and outspoken and will not tolerate his shenanigans. All these excuses he is giving are bunkum. He will see the wrath of fans if his team loses to Swansea tomorrow. He doesn't even know how to motivate players or create competitive spirit in them. Why is he the only manager in the world that talks of fans wanting him to buy a Messi? Is it not better buying an established player than grooming one and by the time you want to reap his benefit, rival clubs snap him with a better offer? Why must Arsene be looking for cheap buys? Where is his ambition? Something he has been doing in the past 7 seasons and it hasn't yielded any dividend, isn't it time he changed focus and strategy?

+1 #41 goonerwest 2013-01-04 04:15

Quoting tewolde:

lopez and villa r needed arsenal to fit the squad and balatolli a stryker as walcot is better in the wing I watched walcot against southsamptom he did nothing

You serious you going to buy 3 strikers and u mentioned Ballotelli as one of them put down the FIFA for a minute and think before you post a comment. Learn how to spell Striker properly too.

-1 #40 Munna 2013-01-04 02:09

Arsene will end up signing benched player of another club as he has no intention of spending

#39 GUNNER SA 2013-01-03 21:51

We need new players,y not use kosh as a defensive midfielder and buy attacking players in midfield amd up front

-4 #38 mwessa. 2013-01-03 21:28

why always Arsenal buy the chip pleyer,don't whant to spend the money like Manchester U,city,chelsea,Tt hospurs.Situation like Fabrigas,Van perse,Nasr, and now is Walcot.I REMEMBER WHEN PATRIK VIERA HE TOLD YOU 2006,NOW I PROVE IS TRUE TRUE.Your in Arsenal for money now but not for any troph.

+1 #37 Archie 2013-01-03 20:42

Adrian Lopez is a good player i have seen him on tv alot of times he is a typical spanish forward he likes to play properly work for the ball and pass it alot his movement is good and he is the next Villa for sure but why is Wenger looking at strikers and not defenders which they did or a cdm but yeah if he joins i will be happy.

-2 #36 Alan Radmall 2013-01-03 16:29

Ramsey is a good strong player - but he has no final pass. Watch carefully next game he plays.
But even after a very poor start, Arsenal is still in a reasonable position to qualify in top four. Lets keep the faith and trust the team we have.

+1 #35 RomanianGunner 2013-01-03 15:30

why arsenal should buy the shadow of falcao? arsenal should get the best players from a team if they want to get better ,not the second choices...Jesus, i don't say that adrian lopez is not good but why they don't try something better?why not falcao,mario gomez,james rodriguez(fc porto) .i know why, ***ing greed! i dind't mention neymar. it will come a day when every good player will refuse arsenal because of this ***y transfer policy,lack of performance,***y management...i know that i will recieve many tumbs down but i watch arsenal games since year 2000 and i don't like what i see now, i don't see a bright future if we will continue like this

#34 Dedie 2013-01-03 14:33

Le Professor we need an experienced DM plus Adrian ain't a bad pick.. I'm sure with the squad we have plus this TWO, i'm sure we gonna be contenders in any of the competitions left.

-4 #33 leety Akeju 2013-01-03 13:21

We need an expirience player this january pls wenger,give walcoth whot he whant pls wenger

-7 #32 tewolde 2013-01-03 13:20

lopez and villa r needed arsenal to fit the squad and balatolli a stryker as walcot is better in the wing I watched walcot against southsamptom he did nothing

-4 #31 Poh c h 2013-01-03 11:35

Arsenal is.a club wants to make money not
Cups.If not,they don't sell all the good players.

+3 #30 linnard khoikhoi 2013-01-03 10:15

let wenger sign villa from bacelona since he has lost ba

-2 #29 linnard khoikhoi 2013-01-03 10:13

it has pained me arsenal losingto demba ba to chelsea let wenger bring in davide vill

#28 kelvin 2013-01-03 09:22

we need fellain and david villa.

-5 #27 Alan Radmall 2013-01-03 09:01

This should be the core of the Arsenal team this year. RVP, Song, Fabregas, Toure, Cliche (infront of Cole), Walcott, Nasri, What went wrong.

-4 #26 Alan Radmall 2013-01-03 08:50

Typical view these days. Buy the player who can't get into the team. We need the player who is keeping him out. I hope is is more that 5 feet 6 inches tall. Find the money for Ba and lets score some goals.

+3 #25 Olanrewaju fatai 2013-01-03 08:28

Wenger should buy lopes and m villa bcos we need experience player 4 dis jan

-1 #24 kokone 2013-01-03 08:25

Wenger is over pampered by Arsenal board and take his own sweet time to sell deadwoods, change flop players during games and even not replacing sale of star players. Where is Fab,Nasri,Song and RVP replacement?????????

-1 #23 Nate 2013-01-03 07:50

We need loPez as he is good but it also shows webber has trust in Walcott as Lopez can play anywhere up front just the signin cause if we signed ba it might of discouraged Walcott to stay as he only plays as a striker

#22 lee hughes 2013-01-03 06:44

U have to get lopez to help us win silverware for the club

-9 #21 coachitto 2013-01-03 06:35

infact my fellow gunner's fan.......to be realistic,arsene av produced it's best to arsenal........ so d best for is to leave.... dn't xpect much from him bcoz he's using pass glory........ gunner's till i die, from Nigeria

-1 #20 Koteshfred 2013-01-03 06:21

If he gets signed he can play in place of the ox... The perfect solution to our right winger problem!!! N if zaha is signed poldi can play up front n score many more goals.... Honestly I think poldi is a better attacker than Walcott and walcott is a better winger than poldi.... We should also sign yann m'vila so that our defensive crisis is solved.... To add on to that 'if' by chance we buy Ronaldo. Our attack will be undoubtedly the best!!!

+2 #19 idris omeru 2013-01-03 05:20

Mr wenger should just act fast we serriouslly need renforcement.

+7 #18 Moses Echesah 2013-01-03 05:04

Please Arsene,do whatever you do and mke sure that the fruits of your signings are recognised in the next match against city.We like Arsenal and it my best team. For Walcott,do it faster so as he signs and that will give you humble time to head new signings. We are glad from Kenya.

-1 #17 Ikechukwu. 2013-01-03 04:08

Arsenal is always very close to signing important players everytime. The likes of Mata, Hazard, Cahill,the list is endless. Wenger has started again this transfer window. When will Wenger wake from sleep and face reality. Arsenal is seriously losing champions league spot.Arsenal was in big four last season but this season, i doubt big six.

-2 #16 #2 Michael Angelo 2013-01-03 04:00

Wenger has no good intentions at Arsenal anymore. We have important matches from till now till january ending and he is still exploring options in the transfer market. I will not be supprise if he fails to sign any player.

#15 adane 2013-01-02 23:45

hey wenger please sign mario goetz other wise not compute champions leagu next year so please please please gotez is realy the solution of arsenal.

-4 #14 nurdebaggio 2013-01-02 23:33

Arsene is always serves as a scout for other teams;he only see the gud players but never buy them.Look at what happened th in the previous years.The likes of C.Ronaldo,ibra,drogb a and others.The most annoying is they turn to punish us,when we meet them.*** Venger!!!

#13 Amly Dave 2013-01-02 23:01

Please I want to ask what relationship exist between Wenger versus Ramsey and Gervinho? Those guys have been identified universally as Arsenal worst players yet Arsene Wenger alone finds them as worthy gunners.

-10 #12 dayo 2013-01-02 22:47

Wenger should should stop usin this useless guy called ramsey, is wenger dating his mom, haaaaa

+1 #11 Afghan 2013-01-02 22:43

Please get asp we need him man city game ,

-2 #10 Isreal 2013-01-02 22:35

Wenger still allowd chelsea to signd ba from newcastle again,likewise he did when arsenal wanted to buy juan matta and hazard,it is a pity.

-3 #9 Isreal 2013-01-02 22:31

What happinin last year is still repeated itself this season when our stupid coach allowed chelsea to signd ba from newscatle it so painful that arsenal are not able to sign ba,likewise juan matta and hazard,hmmmmm.

+12 #8 ken 2013-01-02 22:24

Lopez would be a good addition to arsenal and will bedd in well with the team.Hopefully he is signed before the city game with Aguero sidelined and yaya off to ACON,Nasri suspended its the best time to have this fixture. And there are rumours that arsenal will make Yan Mvilla their first january purchase and rennes agreeing to sell for £12mil(15mil euros)and with walcott signing new contract we might just have Adrian and Mvilla in for the City clash.

+1 #7 idking 2013-01-02 22:19

Think Tiote z al we need @ d moment...pls wenger shud knw wen substituting cazola he shud be replaced wiv Rosicky nd gv more playing time for Ashavin too we need exerience...Ramsey shud be off plsssss

-4 #6 Joe 2013-01-02 22:10

If arsenal are looking for a goalkeeper they should look no further than Celtic number one forester

+1 #5 gunner fan 2013-01-02 21:25

I don't care whoever Wenger gets. He maybe from the Scottish or evenArtic league. He shd start scoring goals the moment he gets into the team.

+2 #4 Steve 2013-01-02 21:05

Well, he will get plenty of practice playing out of position if he signs for Wenger.

+9 #3 richard 2013-01-02 20:46

I saw him a few times last season whilst out in spain has fantastic movement quick feet and would be a good buy interchanging him walcott and giroud will only add to our potential.

+8 #2 john dalton 2013-01-02 20:15

Lopez is a good striker to fit in arsenal

-9 #1 Andrew Smith 2013-01-02 18:59

How about this for an idea Sahin and Villa to Arsenal.

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