Arsenal swoop for ‘talented’ Japanese striker Asano

Mark Scott
Takumo Asano: One for the future at Arsenal

Takumo Asano: One for the future at Arsenal

Arsenal have struck a deal with to sign Japanese international striker Takuma Asano, subject to a medical and Premier League approval.

The 21-year-old recently headlined our Paper Talk feature and is expected to be the third-choice striker at the very least for the Gunners as he continues his development.

“Takuma is a talented young striker and very much one for the future,” Arsene Wenger told the official club website.

“He has had an impressive start to his career in Japan and we look forward to him developing over the next couple of years.”

Asano was named J-League’s ‘Rookie of the Year’ in 2015, the same year in which he broke into the Japanese national squad. He has five caps to his name and Arsenal fans will be able to take a closer look at their new signing at the Rio Olympics in August.

It is believed that Arsenal are still in the hunt to sign a striker that is capable of competing with Olivier Giroud as their primary attacking option in the seasons to come, but it does not look like it will be Alexandre Lacazette of Lyon judging by Jean Michel Aulas’ comments.