Gunners Target French Forward for Revamped Strike Force

It is no secret Arsenal are hunting for a world-class forward to complement Dutch forward Robin van Persie.

The Gunners and Holland captain has been in scintillating form this season, with 26 strikes in the league. However, there is concern the club's back-up strikers, Moroccan Marouane Chamakh and South Korean Park Chu-Young (Dane Nicklas Bendtner and Mexican Carlos Vela are away on loan) are nowhere near good enough to support van Persie, either on the field or as replacements.

The Gunners have been linked with German forward Lukas Podolski and a £11 million, £100,000 per week deal has been reportedly agreed with the FC Koln player but Arsenal are yet to confirm the transfer. Meanwhile, there are also reports, in the Daily Mail, connecting the north London side with French Ligue 1 club Montpellier's striker Olivier Giroud, 25.

According to the report, Arsene Wenger and chief scout Steve Rowley have identified the player (who is the French league's leading goal scorer, with 18 strikes) as a potential target for the summer.

Giroud is believed to be one of the most sought-after strikers in Europe at the moment, having followed up his 14 goals last season with an array of equally impressive performances this year. So much so, in fact, he is reportedly also being monitored by Newcastle United, Bayern Munich and Juventus.

Unfortunately for Wenger, it appears Montpellier owner Louis Nicollin is reluctant, understandably, to part with his most valuable player, particularly since it is now all but certain that his club will be playing in Europe next season.

"He has a contract until 2014, so £42 million (€50 million) or £50 million (€60 million) at least," Nicollin was quoted as saying in a Telegraph report.

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