As injury crisis heaps up at Arsenal day by day, Gary Cahill could sign for the Gunners in the January transfer market in a short-term loan.
Chelsea’s skipper Gary Cahill has been without game time under the new manager Maurizio Sarri. The defender has struggled to establish himself in the starting eleven, after losing his spot to David Luiz and Antonio Rudiger. There are times when Andreas Christensen has been trusted to start over the England International.
It has been a rough patch for the former Bolton Wanderers center-back who has won two titles under Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte at Stamford Bridge. But, bringing his age and pace into consideration, the Italian has opted against naming him on the team sheet.
Having played just 7 times this term, it has become increasingly frustrating for the Chelsea defender as he seeks game time else where. He was close to joining the Turkish outfit Galatasaray during the summer transfer window, but the deal never materialized because it failed in the twelth hour.
According to Mirror, it is understood that the Gunners are the frontrunners for the defender who is actively seeking game time. On the other hand, Unai Emery is also looking out for a centre-back in the transfer window as he prepares to bolster the team’s backline.
Misery has been piled up on the London outfit with many players finding themselves on the treatment table. Young center-back Rob Holding will be watching his team in action from the sidelines till the end of the season. They have only three defenders at the disposal – Laurent Koscielny, Shkrodan Mustafi, and Sokratis Papastathopoulos.
Shkodran Mustafi has been very shaky at the back, Sokratis has been heavily rotated and Koscielny does not have a good injury record over the last couple of years. This could prove to be decisive for the Gunners in pursuing a deal for a center-back who already has an abundance of Premier League experience and would fit into the team.
He spoke to the press two months into this season, “I don’t want to jump the gun but, as things stand, probably yes. Sometimes you have to make tough decisions. As it is, I’m not enjoying things.”
The Blues are ready to let him leave on loan until the end of the season. His contract expires after this campaign which will see him leave on a permanent basis in a free transfer next summer. But, as things stand, it could be the perfect deal for both the parties.
Unai Emery is keeping his tabs open for other defenders as well. He has already shown interest on Real Valladolid defender Fernando Calero, but Gary Cahill will prove to be a great stop-gap until the end of the season.
If he follows them to the Emirates, he would become the third remarkable player to wear the Gunners jersey after representing the Blues, following Petr Cech and William Gallas.
The Gunners will take on Brighton away from home on boxing day, followed by the game against Liverpool on Saturday at Anfield.
