Maybe Arsenal are interested in signing the Portugal international Jose Fonte from Southampton. We could certainly do worse than bringing in this highly experienced centre back to cover the gaps in our back line caused by the injury problems of Mertesacker and Gabriel.
Fonte is a proven performer in the Premier League, with almost 150 games under his belt for Southampton, and he was one of the major reasons that an unfancied Portugal team were able to lift the European championship trophy in France this summer.
Having said all that he is 32-years old and although he should still have a few years left at the top level I think Arsene Wenger would still rather sign a slightly younger player. Fonte is also being linked with a move to join Jose Mourinho at Old Tafford, as reported by The Mirror, and Wenger suggested only last week that he could not compete with Manchester United in the transfer market.
So could it be that someone connected with Arsenal is behind these Fonte rumours, with the idea that Valencia might begin to worry about missing out on the cash boost they would get by selling us Shkodran Mustafi? With the news that the German defender is training alone it appears that his club may be ready to sell, and if they think that Arsenal might look elsewhere, perhaps they will be ready to accept our offer.
What do you think, Gooners, am I being too suspicious?
Bob.