Can Arsenal compete for the title without a striker? This is a realistic and heart-wrenching question. The consecutive injuries of Saka and Jesus have caused the team's offensive firepower to falter, while Havertz has been described as "causing anxiety" with no contributions in attack. For a moment, Arsenal manager Arteta was pushed to the forefront of the "striker shortage." Facing the critical stage of the championship race, Arsenal, who are usually shrewd, suddenly decided to take a tough stance - they plan to spend 100 million euros to bring the "annual top scorer" Zhe Kailai Shi to the Emirates Stadium.
If this transfer goes through, he will not only become Arsenal's "firefighter" but also potentially take on the title of the "100 million euro king" of the Premier League winter window. However, the question remains: can Zhe Kailai Shi withstand the weighty 100 million euros? Is Arsenal's gamble a lifesaver or a burden?
This season's Arsenal almost made people relive the dream of the "invincible battleship" of the 2003-04 season. They started strongly and performed well in the Champions League group stage. However, just as things were looking up, the consecutive injuries of Saka and Jesus dealt a heavy blow to the team.
Saka, in particular, is almost the soul of Arsenal's attack. Once absent, the team's counter-attacking ability seems to be drained. As for Havertz, his performance has been mediocre at best, with some shots even leading fans to doubt whether this 100 million euro signing is just "going through the motions."
Arsenal currently urgently needs a killer who can quickly fill the void, someone who can immediately integrate into Arteta's tactical system and become a scoring machine. The forward line issue is no longer just theoretical; it is the most glaring "question mark" in every game. In this context, Arteta has set his sights on Zhe Kailai Shi.
Speaking of Zhe Kailai Shi, he is by no means a "flash in the pan," but a true representative figure who has risen from grassroots to become a top scorer.
His career began at the youth training camp of Sporting Portugal, a club known as a "star-making factory" that has produced football giants like Cristiano Ronaldo. It was in such an environment that Zhe Kailai Shi honed his excellent shooting ability and keen sense in front of goal.
In 2024, his performance was stunning - scoring 62 goals throughout the year, directly earning him the title of "annual top scorer." Whether in the league or on the international stage, he was a nightmare for opposing defenses. Judging from the data, he is simply a machine born to score goals, with solid fundamentals and strong physical confrontation ability. Many say that his playing style is like a "hybrid of Cristiano Ronaldo and Erling Haaland," a typical "goal finisher."
However, it must be said that despite Sporting Portugal's brilliance, it is still considered a "small league." The intensity of the Premier League is famously a "melee," and whether Zhe Kailai Shi can adapt in a short period of time remains uncertain. Even the best weapons need time to be polished to exert their maximum power.
In fact, Manchester United was originally one of the pursuers of Zhe Kailai Shi. Coach Amorim has always been fond of this "former subordinate" and hopes he can reinforce his old club during the winter window. However, Manchester United cannot afford the high release clause of 100 million euros. According to informed sources, Manchester United's financial budget is tighter than expected. After spending heavily in the summer window to sign Hoiland and Onana, Manchester United must live within its means.
To cope with the weakness in the forward line, Manchester United is looking for more economical options, such as renting an experienced old center forward as a temporary fix. However, rental is at most a "short-term patch" and is unlikely to deliver long-term results in the competitive Premier League. This financial difficulty forced Manchester United to "back down" from the competition for Zhe Kailai Shi, further highlighting the deep-seated problems they face in club operations.
Compared to Manchester United's "empty pockets," Arsenal's situation is much more comfortable. Over the past few seasons, whether it's signing new core players like Rice and Odegaard or the performance of young players, Arteta and his team have demonstrated outstanding coaching and operational capabilities.
More importantly, Arsenal's runner-up finish last season brought them significant Champions League revenue, significantly increasing their overall budget. It is on this basis that they have the capital to wave their checkbooks and spend hundreds of millions.
The Arsenal management's calculations are simple: now is the critical stage of the championship race, and rather than letting the forward line issues affect their results, it's better to "spend money to make money" and introduce a top scorer early to solve the urgent problem. However, spending freely also comes at a cost, and the 100 million euro label itself will bring immense psychological pressure - especially for a young striker like Zhe Kailai Shi who has never played in the Premier League before.
Zhe Kailai Shi's exorbitant transfer fee is not an isolated case. Looking at the entire winter window market, it can be seen that the "100 million trend" has become the norm. The rising value of player transfers is driven by the significant growth in broadcasting revenue and club sponsorships. Taking the Premier League as an example, after the pandemic, the transfer market has generally warmed up, making big clubs more willing to spend big money on signings.
However, high-priced players have become a "double-edged sword." They do bring excellent on-field performances and commercial value, but if they cannot adapt quickly, they often become a burden to the club. Looking back at the cases of Sanchez and Coutinho, aren't they vivid lessons of blood and tears?
Thanks to his outstanding physical talent and terrifying goal-scoring efficiency, Zhe Kailai Shi has instantly become a "hot commodity" in the international market. Besides Arsenal and Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid are also keeping a close eye on him. Especially Paris, they recently secretly contacted Zhe Kailai Shi's agent, hoping to hijack him directly next summer. However, Paris' current strategy leans more towards cultivating potential stocks rather than direct high-priced signings, so the possibility of action in the short term is low.
Real Madrid is the same. Their reserve of young talents and depth in the forward line are sufficient to meet short-term needs, so although they are interested, they have not made any actual offers. In the end, Arsenal's pursuit of Zhe Kailai Shi in the winter window is mainly against "time" rather than other "clubs."
Arsenal's quick move is like grabbing a parking spot during rush hour - it seems advantageous, but it doesn't necessarily mean smooth sailing afterward. The pressure of the Premier League and the intensity of the competition could all pose challenges for Zhe Kailai Shi. Especially in England's media environment, if his performance is not up to par, public opinion could increase his pressure even more.
Of course, if everything goes smoothly, Zhe Kailai Shi could not only carry Arsenal's forward line but also potentially become the brightest new star in the Premier League in the coming years. But in football, no one can give guarantees.
In conclusion, whether Zhe Kailai Shi's transfer will be a sweet candy or a hot potato, Arsenal will soon find out.