Ricardo Rodriguez has been strongly linked with both Chelsea and Arsenal in recent times, and his future has been further speculated today.
The Swiss international is highly-rated across the continent and Wolfsburg are bracing themselves as they await the interest in his signature to move forward.
Antonio Conte is believed to be keen on adding him to his current options, with Marcos Alonso and the inexperienced Ola Aina currently vying for the left wing-back role.
Arsenal on the other hand would likely be bringing Rodriguez in to play as first-choice, with Nacho Monreal failing to live up to the high standards he set during the previous campaign. Kieran Gibbs is challenging the Spaniard currently, and no deal for the Swiss defender looks likely unless Gibbs was to leave the club.
Reports from Italy moved to claim that the left-back would not be joining a Premier League side, insisting that he had strong interest in joining Inter Milan (and nobody else), with the player apparently having told his agent just that.
The same source then claimed that the Inter owners had no interest in stumping up the fee needed to land the 24 year-old, citing UEFA’s Financial Fair Play Regulations as the reasoning.
This could well mean he may entertain the idea of a move to England, not that I expect Arsene Wenger to look into an offer unless Gibbs was on the receiving end of an offer to move elsewhere.
We could certainly do with improving on our left-back role, and maybe a central midfielder this window, but Wenger has already stated that he doesn’t expect anybody to join us this month.
I’m not sure whether the French boss actually means he isn’t trying to secure any additions, or more trying to reduce the disappointment should he fail to secure the players he is trying to sign.
Would Rodriguez improve our starting XI?
Pat J