There is no doubt that Arsenal are in dire need of defensive reinforcements urgently, and according to reports in France we are looking at the St. Etienne centre-back Loic Perrin. at 29 years of age Perrin is certainly very experienced, with over 220 games under his belt in the French League, although he has never played competitively for the French national team.
“I was contacted personally. Arsenal are interested,” Perrin is quoted as saying in the Mirror. “But for now, there is still no contact with Saint-Etienne.”
The report states that he would be available for as little as £6million which I am sure will appeal to Arsene Wenger, and also he is said to be able to play in a variety of defensive positions which is also in his favour.
We all know Wenger likes a bargain, but personally I can’t see Perrin being anything but a stop-gap squad player. Perrin has spent his whole career at St. Etienne, but surely if he was very talented he would have snapped up by a top French team at any time in the last decade, and because of his age he is unlikely to be expected to improve any more. I know we are desperate, but if Wenger was serious when he said that he would only buy players that would improve the team then this must be an unlikely signing.
Sebastien Squillaci anyone?