Arsenal set for second summer signing with Romania international forward.
Arsenal are closing in on the signing of Romanian international forward Ciprian Marica, according to the 27 year-old’s agent.
Marica is available on a free transfer, with his contract at FC Schalke 04 having expired, and agent Giovani Becali claims the Gunners are leading the chase to sign him.
“A deal is close with Arsenal; we’ll see this week,” Becali told Romanian newspaper Libertatea.
“Marica is a very good striker, a Romanian international who has experience of great football in western Europe.
“It is normal for him to be targeted by big clubs, especially on a free transfer as his contract with Schalke has concluded.”
Marica, who would be the first Romanian player to ever play for Arsenal, previously played for Dinamo Bucharest, Shakhtar Donetsk, VfB Stuttgart and Schalke 04, but has never been a hugely prolific striker.
Having scored seven goals in 32 matches for Dinamo, Marica then managed 22 in 113 for Shakhtar, then 30 in 133 for Stuttgart before a mere nine strikes in 52 games for Schalke before he was released.
His international record is rather more impressive, with 21 goals in 61 games for Romania, but he is perhaps not the goalscoring forward Arsenal need.
Instead, Marica is a tricky second striker or winger who may come in handy as a squad player for Arsenal – if he signs.
Arsenal have only signed France U20 striker Yaya Sanogo on a free transfer so far this summer.
