Arsenal are interested in Borussia Monchengladbach forward Alassane Plea amid doubts about Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette, according to reports.

The Daily Mail report that Arsenal and Manchester United are among the clubs monitoring Alassane Plea ahead of a possible summer move. The forward could reportedly only cost £15m, and he’s ‘ready to leave’ Germany.

Arsenal are long-term admirers of the player, having shown interest even before he joined Gladbach. But the situation is coming back up again now after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s struggles and Alexandre Lacazette’s expiring contract.

Lacazette will only have a year left on his deal this summer, with Mikel Arteta suggesting they won’t discuss an extension until the end of the season. You’d expect them to extend or sell at that point, to avoid losing him for free.

If he goes, and with Aubameyang apparently not guaranteed to stay either, Plea would be a low-cost replacement. The striker has 16 goals and assists in 37 appearances (26 starts) this season, the same g/a as Aubameyang and three fewer than Lacazette.

Plea isn’t a hugely prolific scorer, averaging 14-15 goals a season over the last five. But he does have other qualities, as he’s excellent at holding up the ball and creating chances for his teammates. Perhaps that’s the kind of striker Arteta wants.