Wenger’s lack of keeper activity beggars belief
OF all the deals penned during another hectic deadline day yesterday, it was the one transfer that wasn’t completed which raised the eyebrows the most.
With a scouting network to rival almost any club in Europe, it beggars belief why Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger still can’t sign a goalkeeper, despite being linked with so many.
Working as an agent, I can tell you there are some good goalkeepers available out there, but for some reason it seems Wenger just won’t fork out on a shot-stopper.
Take Hugo Lloris at Lyon, or the Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg. Both are Champions League-quality goalkeepers, well within Wenger’s reach financially, and both have a good 10-15 years shelflife in them.
Instead, Wenger set his sights on Mark Schwarzer, who, good a keeper as he is, is 37 now and is not going to give him any more than he has now.
It’s been a good day for Manuel Almunia. He remains Arsenal’s No1. But his confidence must be shot to pieces by all this transfer talk. It’s all been a bit of a disaster.
GOT TO LOVE HIM
Of the managers doing business yesterday, I think Alex McLeish at Birmingham will have the biggest smile on his face this morning.
The loan signing of Alexander Hleb is shrewd and I really like the lad Beausejour, who had a great World Cup with Chile.
Steve Bruce will also be happy with the arrival of Asamoah Gyan, who also had a terrific World Cup with Ghana, but transfer deadline days just wouldn’t be the same it seems without talking about Harry Redknapp.
You’ve got to love him, he spends all day talking on Sky Sports News about a quiet day away from the transfer market and he pulls a goalkeeper and possibly Rafael van der Vaart out of the hat!
If it comes off and van der Vaart lives up to his reputation, then Harry will have pulled off a real coup.