Arsenal Transfer News: Huntelaar is Van Persie Replacement?

caughtoffside suggest that fellow Dutch international; Klaas-Jan Huntelaar could be the man to fill Robin Van Persie€™s boots. With yesterday€™s news that Robin Van Persie doesn€™t intend to extend his Arsenal career, the 28-year-old striker almost certainly seems to be on his way. Buzz has already started regarding a possibe replacement. Early rumours suggest RVP will follow his former teammates Gael Clichy and Samir Nasri to Man City, though a perhaps surprising move to Man Utd shouldn€™t be ruled out according to early reports. Of course, destinations further afield are also a distinct possibility, but who will replace him? Suggestions this morning are that compatriot Klaas-Jan Huntelaar could be in line for a move to The Emirates with Arsene Wenger potentially lining up a £17 million bid. Though with Giroud and Podolski already in the bag, is this really likely or just knee-jerk paper talk? Huntelaar, an out-and-out goal scorer who, despite a quiet European Championships, had an amazingly prolific season for Schalke scoring 48 goals in 47 appearances. Despite Huntelaar€™s season long purple patch in the Bundesliga, he still plays second fiddle to Van Persie in the national side, starting the Euros on the bench. And is signing another 28-year-old for £17 million really Arsene€™s style? Because of his contract situation, Arsenal will probably not get value for money from the Van Persie sale and splashing the cash for a third time this transfer window doesn€™t wouldn€™t be in keeping with Arsenal€™s usually prudent transfer policy. With the signing of Giroud, 25, maybe the writing was already on the wall. Giroud isn€™t a dissimilar player to Huntelaar, the 6€™3€ Frenchman is likely to lead the attack and with Wenger favouring one striker flanked by two wide men, his current tactics wouldn€™t incorporate them both. Huntelaar at £17m is also untested in the premier league and before the 2011/12 season his career has stuttered, not really hitting his stride in Italy or Spain. With Bendtner and Chamakh will likely to follow Van Persie out the door, a younger understudy for Giroud would seem more Wenger€™s style, however with last seasons last minute signings of Arteta and Benayoun, Huntelaar shouldn€™t be ruled out.