Arsenal have no choice but to act quickly in the transfer market now that all three of their first choice centre backs will be missing for the start of the season.
And it looks as if one man from the Premier League could be keen on making the move to the Gunners after admitting a switch to a big club would be tempting.
The player in question is Southampton’s Jose Fonte, who despite being 32 years old has all of the necessary requirements to step in and solve Arsenal’s defensive injury crisis.
Gabriel is now likely to join Per Mertesacker on the sidelines until 2017 following his nasty ankle injury picked up during the dying minutes of the 3-2 victory over Manchester City.
But as Arsenal pull down the curtain on a successful pre-season spell, questions are now being asked of Wenger to finally bring an experienced centre back to fix the issues at the back.
Whilst speaking to Portuguese newspaper, O Jogo which has been quoted in Sport Witness today, Fonte revealed that although he was happy at Southampton, it would be hard to turn down an approach from a side playing in the top level.
Southampton are a good club in England, where I’ve been treated very well, we have been successful.
However, in football you never know what can happen and it’s obvious that if a world class club who play in the Champions League show up, it’s tempting for me.
What I can say is that I strongly believe in my abilities and, through it, I think I can play in any team in the world.
Confident stuff from the recent Euro’s winner, and if that’s anything to go by then Wenger should be seriously considering a bid for the centre back.
A move like this would tick every box of Wenger’s high demands; he’s experienced and established in the Premier League but also has the energy and desire of a 25-year-old.
At Southampton he’s considered the hub of the team and Arsenal are now lacking a dominant voice at the back until Laurent Koscielny returns to full fitness.
If a quick fix is what Wenger needs then look no further, this deal could be wrapped up in days due to Southampton being happy to wave goodbye to a player that will be rounding down his career in the next couple of years.
Whilst they can, they should at least make a few pounds out of it and with the time remaining in the transfer window it offers them a chance to bring in replacements before September 3rd.
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