There is another development in the Arsenal transfer rumour linking us with a possible swoop for the Borussia Dortmund star defender Mats Hummels in the January transfer window. According to a report in the Daily Star, one of our main rivals for the signature of Hummels has dropped out of the race.
The paper claims that news from Russia suggests that the Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal is now looking at Ezequiel Garay, the Argentina international centre back currently playing for Zenit St. Petersburg, as his top transfer target in January. This apparently leaves Arsenal in pole position to sign the Germany international.
It does not mean that we will go for him, with the Gunners also linked with Winston Reid and Virgil van Dijk, to name but two. However, if we do go for Hummels and are successful, it will surely mean that one of the current first choice central defenders at Arsenal would miss out.
And with Laurent Koscielny the quickest, youngest and most consistent of the two, it would probably be Hummels former team mate in the Germany national team, Per Mertesacker, that would drop to the bench. Arsenal lost their last captain, Thomas Vermaelen, in just that sort of situation, so would the transfer of the 25-year old Dortmund cause a similar problem?
To be honest, I don’t think so. Our BFG seems a lot more of a team player who would realise what was best for the club and be ready to step in when necessary. The other option would be to sign a player that would merely be competition and cover for Mertesacker and Koscielny. It seems clear that Wenger will strengthen the defence in January but which route will the manager take?