Arsenal are determined to land Fulham forward Clint Dempsey this summer after regular scouting reports since the turn of the year convinced Arsene Wenger he would fit perfectly into their system.
The £10million-rated USA striker has scored 22 goals this season, including Monday night’s late equaliser against Chelsea. Wenger, who also wants to add a new wide player to his squad in the summer, has told chief scout Steve Rowley to draw up a list of targets and Dempsey is high on it.
Arsenal’s interest in Dempsey, 29, underlines his growing status as one of the Premier League’s top performers. The former New England Revolution forward’s contract expires in the summer of 2013 and he is currently stalling over fresh terms with Fulham, with Newcastle and Liverpool also understood to be interested.
On target: Clint Dempsey nets Fulham's eqauliser against Chelsea
Meanwhile, Arsenal are facing a mini-defensive crisis ahead of tonight’s visit to Wolves.
Laurent Koscielny is suspended while Kieran Gibbs (groin) and Bacary Sagna (knock) are both doubts.
Johan Djourou should replace Koscielny in central defence, while Andre Santos and Carl Jenkinson are on stand-by to replace Gibbs and Sagna. Victory at Molineux will put Arsenal five points ahead of Tottenham in the race for third spot.
But Wenger said: ‘Let’s not anticipate, that is something else that is important. When it gets to the last sprint, focusing on the next game becomes the most important part because you are always tempted to anticipate. We have the experience to know just to deal with the next game and that is the only important thing.’
Top target: Dempsey (left)
And Yossi Benayoun will leave Arsenal when his loan from Chelsea expires in the summer and start the search for his fourth club in as many years. Benayoun impressed against Manchester City on Sunday but it was only his fifth Premier League start for the Gunners.
