Football transfer rumours: Arsenal to sign Stephan Lichtsteiner and Virgil van Dijk?
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Version 0 of 1. The Mill suspects that Arsène Wenger has a vast collection of a certain type of magazine. Model-building magazines, of course! You know, the ones where the first issue is cheap and comes with the first part of a magnificent ship or tank or rocket or something, the second issue is a little more expensive and includes another part of the model, and then each subsequent issue is really quite dear because the publishers reckon you’ll want to complete your creation so you can display it proudly on your mantelpiece alongside all the candlestick-holders/empty wine bottles. But most people never get round to buying the full series of magazines and so have homes full of half-ships and quarter-trains, just as Wenger has for several years had a football team just a couple of pieces short of completion. Well, now we read that Wenger has been nagged into doing something about that! The relentless complaining from Arsenal fans has, apparently, convinced the manager to spend January tracking down the parts missing from his model team – although the first step, we read, will be to buy another right-back to go with the two he bought last summer. But the acquisition of Stephan Lichtsteiner from Juventus could allow Callum Chambers to be converted permanently into a centre-back. Similarly, the arrival of another centre-back, Celtic’s Virgil van Dijk could allow Chambers to be pegged permanently as a right-back. So what we’re saying is, Wenger seems set on building baroque defence with many extravagant embellishments. Wenger has also been made aware that there is an alarming void at the base of Arsenal’s midfield and he could be about to repair that by luring Grzegorz Krychowiak from Sevilla. But he is also eyeing up Brazilian Rômulo, whom he may be able to prise from Spartak Moscow for around £9m and a lend of Yaya Sanogo. Oh, and there’s the usual chatter about Sami Khedira weighing up a move from Real Madrid to the Emirates. Or Old Trafford. Or Stamford Bridge. Speaking of familiar stories, there is fresh talk of Arsenal being in advanced nattering over Gonzalo Higuaín, the striker whom they came close to landing last year before Napoli gazumped them. Word is they may finally get the Argentinian this time round. Meanwhile, Liverpool are happy to let on that Marco Reus is contemplating a move to Anfield rather than extending his contract at Borussia Dortmund. Perhaps more likely, Brendan Rodgers is pursuing Bayer Leverkusen’s Turkish centre-back Omer Toprak, who is also being wooed by Tottenham. The player whom Mauricio Pochettino really wants, however, is Southampton’s Jay Rodriguez, whom he believes is exactly the right size for the White Hart Lane pitch. |