Redknapp Asks Arsenal To Concentrate On Signing Defenders

By Max Wise

Former Tottenham Hotspurs manager, Harry Redknapp, has asked Arsenal to concentrate on signing defenders instead of strengthening their forward lines.

The Gunners have been linked with a move for Crystal Palace’s Ivory Coast international, Wilfried Zaha, who the Eagles price at £80m while Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos is close to joining on a season-long loan this week.

A deal for Saint Etienne’s 18-year-old defender William Saliba is close to being done but a move Celtic left-back Kieran Tierney has been rebuffed by the Scottish champions.

The club’s captain Laurent Koscielny is looking for a way out of the club as he refused to travel on their pre-season tour of the United States, and Spanish right-back Hector Bellerin looks set to miss the start of the season as he continues his rehabilitation from a long-term knee injury.

Arsenal kept just eight clean sheets in the league last season, conceding 51 goals along the way and Redknapp thinks with the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette and Mesut Ozil still at the club, the priority should be bringing in top notch central defenders.

Asked about the current state of the Gunners team, former Spurs boss Redknapp said on Tuesday’s Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast: “What has happened to Arsenal?

“Years ago, when Arsenal wanted a player they went and got him.

“We keep talking about the kid at Celtic [Tierney], who is a good left-back, but they need central defenders, surely.

“You talk to an Arsenal fan and they’d tell you – in the back four, their two centre halves are not good enough, they’re going to lose [Laurent] Koscielny, he’s got a problem and he wants out, and they’re short in midfield.

“The certainly don’t need any more forwards – that’s the one area they are decent in, they’ve got a couple of good front men.

“They need some defenders desperately.”