Arsenal transfer news: Gunners could make £30m double-swoop in January for Barcelona pair Dani Alves and Pedro
The Gunners are struggling especially in a depleted defence and they could look to the Barcelona duo to strengthen their squad considerably
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Your support makes all the difference.Arsenal have been linked with a £30m joint-move for Barcelona pair Dani Alves and Pedro in an attempt to salvage a season that is in danger of ending in complete disaster.
Sunday’s defeat to Swansea, which came at the end of a week that also saw the Gunners let slip a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 with Anderlecht, has raised serious questions of manager Arsene Wenger’s management style and transfer policy.
The problem for Wenger is that unlike in previous years, he spent big in the summer transfer window of the additions of Alexis Sanchez, Danny Welbeck, Calum Chambers and Mathieu Debuchy – with David Ospina the only player signed for a fee less than £10m.
Arsenal have looked frail in defence at the best of times though this season, and find themselves down in sixth position and a worrying 12 points behind leaders Chelsea. With Chambers being horribly exposed in the 2-1 loss at Swansea by the pace and trickery of Jefferson Montero, Alves appears to have been identified as a possible January signing, reports claim that Pedro could join him with both looking to leave the Nou Camp.
Alves has featured regularly this season under new manager Luis Enrique, although he was dropped this weekend for the win over Almeria and he stated earlier this year that he could leave Barcelona due to feeling unwanted – with his contract due to expire at the end of the season.
"How can people forget that these players have been responsible for the greatest football? Well, I don't feel like it. That's why there are many doubts over my staying here," Alves said in an interview with Catalan radio RAC1.
Meanwhile Pedro, who was substituted at half-time on Saturday night having been given a chance to impress after three straight matches among the substitutes, could also interest the Gunners given his work rate and natural talent.
However, Arsenal would be put off by the fact they have much greater concerns in other areas of the team, namely the defence and holding midfield role, and that summer signing Sanchez is currently excelling in Pedro’s natural position on the right wing.
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