Free agent strikers: The forwards available to sign right now | OneFootball

Recent injuries have left both Arsenal and Chelsea severely lacking for options in the striker position.

The Gunners are without Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, while the Blues have lost Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu to injuries.

The January transfer window has already closed but there is still a way that both clubs could recruit attacking reinforcements.

Despite the transfer window remaining closed until the summer, Premier League clubs are still able to sign free agents. These are any players that currently do not have a club.

As one might expect, the options available in the free agent market are severely reduced. Any signing made would likely be brought in on a short-term basis, to serve as a stop-gap.

There is normally a reason why a player does not have a club at this stage of the season. Free agents are often past their best and no longer at a desirable age.

Although it is far from an ideal way to do business, free agents can offer relief to stretched squads. Both Arsenal and Chelsea could benefit from the services of a striker over the next few months.

Here we take a look at some of the limited attacking options that are currently available as free agents:

Diego Costa

Diego Costa for Chelsea (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images) via ONE FOOTBALL

Once one of the best strikers in the Premier League, those days are firmly behind Diego Costa now. At the age of 36, the Brazilian-born striker last played for Gremio in his native country. He did not enjoy a memorable spell with the team, and earning a red card whilst playing with the U20s was a certain low point.

Despite this, the goalscorer has proven himself at the highest level, scoring 59 goals in 120 appearances for Chelsea. The striker would certainly not be a long-term solution but if he is in shape, he could be worth a short-term gamble. Even if he us past his best, Costa is guaranteed to always be a nuisance to opposition defenders and provide entertainment for fans with his antics.

Mariano Diaz

Mariano Diaz for Real Madrid (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images) via ONE FOOTBALL

Mariano Diaz is another striker that is familiar with Europe’s top clubs, having spent almost a decade at Real Madrid. The 31-year-old spent two years in the C team and another two in the B team, before being promoted to Real Madrid’s squad for the 2016 season. After that season he departed for Lyon, returning an impressive 18 goals from 37 games in his only season there. This prompted the Spanish giants to immediately re-sign him and he spent the next five years in the Spanish capital.

The forward made 84 appearances across his six years with the first team, the majority of which came from the bench. Although he rarely claimed a starting spot for Madrid, the time he spent there does indicate his talent. After an underwhelming year with Sevilla, Diaz is now a free agent and could be an option to boost Arsenal or Chelsea for the final months of this season.

Lucas Perez

Lucas Perez for Arsenal (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) via ONE FOOTBALL

Lucas Perez is not an option that is likely to excite Arsenal fans. The Spanish striker has already had a disappointing spell with the club in the past. Perez joined Arsenal in 2016 for £17 million but he would only spend one season with the Gunners. After netting just once in 11 Premier League games, the striker was sent back to Spain on loan for a season before Arsenal sold him on to West Ham.

After his move across London he added three Premier League goals to his tally but he also left West Ham after just a season. Perez returned to Spain where he has continued to play ever since. The 36-year-old has recently terminated his contract with Deportivo La Coruna and is now available as a free agent.

Gyasi Zardes

Gyasi Zardes for the USA (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) via ONE FOOTBALL

Gyasi Zardes is one of the most prolific scorers in MLS history. The American striker was once touted for big things but he never made the move to Europe. He broke into an LA Galaxy side that featured Premier League legends Steven Gerrard and Robbie Keane. Since then he has continued to score goals for a number of MLS sides. Although his form has fluctuated, Zardes occupies a spot in the top ten MLS goalscorers of all time.

After the culmination of last season’s MLS, the 33-year-old now finds himself without a club. Although the forward has never played at an elite level in Europe, he is one of the younger players available on the free agent market. It is very unlikely that Zardes will ever play in the Premier League but he is one of the more interesting options currently available.

Kevin Gameiro

Kevin Gameiro for Athletico Madrid (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images) via ONE FOOTBALL

The Frenchman has enjoyed a stellar career, performing for top clubs including PSG, Sevilla and Atletico Madrid. The attacker boasts 101 Ligue 1 goals, 74 in La Liga and an additional 28 across the Champions League and Europa League. Also the holder of four Europa League winner’s medals, Gameiro has definitely had an impressive career.

Now aged 37, the former French international has been without a club since the summer. Age is certainly not on his side but the striker could potentially do a job on a short-term basis. He would be far from an ideal option but with free agents limited, Gameiro could be an option at Arsenal or Chelsea.

Maxi Gomez

Maxi Gomez playing for Cadiz (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

It is a surprise that Gomez is a free agent given he is only 28. The forward played for Spanish club Cadiz on loan last season but struggled to have much of an impact, failing to score for the club. His previous spells were more successful, however, having scored plenty of goals for Celta Vigo and Valencia. He would need to rediscover the form which had him so highly rated in his younger days but is an intriguing option.