French striker André-Pierre Gignac has been linked with a move to the Premier League since his goalscoring exploits last season. The likes of Arsenal and Juventus have all been said to be interested in the powerful striker.
Currently with Toulouse, 24-year-old Gignac was the top-scorer in Ligue 1 last season with 24 goals in 38 appearances. He was in great form throughout the season and really dominated defences. Gignac is powerful figure; he possesses great strength and is a formidable target-man. He has good pace but his power is his main weapon as he bulldozes through defenders. His touch is decent and he is a constant threat in the air; physically he is certainly the type of player that could succeed in the Premier League. Gignac is highly rated around Europe and would not come cheaply; Lyon reportedly had a bid approaching £20million rejected over the summer and Toulouse are in no rush to sell.
Despite Gignac’s form last season; this season he has not been quite the same player. It may be that the constant speculation regarding a move has affected his mental state, but he has only scored 5 league goals in 20 appearances this season. It should also be noted that in the 2007-08 season, he only managed 2 league goals in 28 appearances; many of these appearances were as a substitute, Bolton flop Johan Elmander was first-choice at the time. Whatever the reasons, it is important to remember that so far, Gignac has only had one exceptional season during his career. He is certainly a talented player, but he is not worth the money that is being talked about. His dip in form may cause his valuation to decline and so a move may be more likely after the World Cup, the player himself has indicated a preference for a move to Lyon.
Gignac is a regular for the French national team; he has 4 goals in 10 appearances and appears to be ahead of Karim Benzema in the pecking order. He is likely to start France’s first games in South Africa and an impressive showing at the World Cuo could help him engineer a move to a bigger club.
About the Author
