Gunners not willing to splash out on St. Etienne captain Loic Perrin.
Arsenal are set to cool their interest in St. Etienne central defender Loic Perrin after being quoted a fee of £8 million for the services of the experienced Frenchman by Les Verts, report the Mail, with Arsene Wenger set to turn his attentions elsewhere in the pursuit of defensive reinforcements this January.
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The 29 year-old, who has become an iconic figure at St. Etienne after spending his entire career with one of France’s most well supported clubs, had emerged as one of Wenger’s key targets for the January window on account of his experience and versatility, but it appears that a fee of £8m is too much for the Gunners to stomach.
Villarreal duo Gabriel Paulista and Bruno Soriano, as well as long term target Winston Reid of West Ham United, are discussed as potential alternatives to Perrin, but Wenger’s unwillingness to act decisively in the hunt for defensive signings is sure to concern Arsenal fans.
The Gunners have had to make do with very little cover for first choice central defensive duo Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny during the course of the season, with teenage Calum Chambers and left back Nacho Monreal the only players behind the senior duo in the Emirates Stadium pecking order.