According to the Guardian, Arsenal are in talks with Olympique Lyonnais to swap forwards Vivianne Miedema for Nikita Parris and this would not be a good thing if the deal does happen.

BOREHAMWOOD, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 04: Vivanne Miedema of Arsenal FC speaks with match referee Emily Heaslip during the Barclays FA Women's Super League match between Arsenal and Bristol City at Meadow Park on October 04, 2020 in Borehamwood, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Kate McShane/Getty Images)
BOREHAMWOOD, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 04: Vivanne Miedema of Arsenal FC speaks with match referee Emily Heaslip during the Barclays FA Women’s Super League match between Arsenal and Bristol City at Meadow Park on October 04, 2020 in Borehamwood, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Kate McShane/Getty Images)

In terms of business, you can understand why Arsenal does not want to let their Dutch striker go on a free transfer next summer and would like to cash in, but a straight swap between Vivianne Miedema and Nikita Parris?

A swap between Miedema and Ada Hegerberg would make sense. They are both world class strikers. Anyone thinking Parris and Miedema are in the same valuation range really over-rates Parris and underrates Miedema.

Don’t get me wrong, Nikita Parris is a good striker, there is no doubt about that and she has a proven record in the FA WSL. But she is not at the same level as Vivianne Miedema. There are probably only three or four strikers around the world at the same level as the Dutch forward and Parris isn’t one of them.

There are a lot of talented players at Lyon that would make sense to bring to the Arsenal: Carpenter, Karchaoui, M’Bock Bathy, Renard, Eggurola, Majri, Macario, Cascarino, Le Sommer or Malard. Arsenal could take one of those players and find another striker somewhere else.

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Why settle for a good striker, if you can get an excellent one?

Let’s hope the deal does not happen as it would be a big downgrade for Arsenal and proof that the club lack ambition.

You have to be realistic, it would be a lot harder to win the league or the Champions League with Parris as the number 9 rather than Miedema.

Obviously, Parris has won the FA WSL and the Champions League in the past, so it is possible to do it with her, but it would not be as easy as winning it with Miedema.

Or maybe I am wrong, Parris may be a better player than Miedema and the deal makes sense….maybe.

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