Arsenal will attempt to stave off a defensive crisis by making two signings in the January transfer window.
A season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury to Rob Holding has forced Unai Emery to reconsider his plans for the New Year and he will look to Chelsea’s Gary Cahill as a stop-gap signing according to ESPN.
The Gunners may even look to push through a loan move for the England defender who has barely featured at Chelsea since the arrival of Maurizio Sarri. The 32-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and Chelsea have made it clear they have no wish to retain his services.
It’s a move which would not go down well with Arsenal fans, many of whom have been peppering Twitter with their disgust at the idea of signing a player of his age and from a London rival.
Emery also wants to bring in Manchester United defender Eric Bailly as cover for Laurent Koscielny who has only recently returned from a lengthy absence because of an Achiles injury. Bailly looks to have fallen out of favour with Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford despite arriving at the club with a £30million price tag.
Emery knows what Bailly is capable of having seen him at close quarters with both Villareal and Espanyol while coach of Sevilla.
Manchester United may be willing to let Bailly go to fund Mourinho’s spending plans in January. It has been widely reported that Mourinho wants to bring in at least three new faces.