players in January, says Unai Emery
Arsenal have been linked with a move
for Inter Milan winger Ivan Perisic,
with Italian and British papers
reporting that the 29-year-old Croatia
international has handed in a transfer
request
Arsenal are negotiating to sign two
players before the transfer window
closes on Thursday, but manager Unai
Emery says they are not in the market
for a defender despite a host of injuries
to his back line.
The London club have been linked with
a move for Inter Milan winger Ivan
Perisic, with Italian and British papers
reporting that the 29-year-old Croatia
international has handed in a transfer
request.
Barcelona winger Denis Suarez is the
other player linked with the Emirates
Stadium outfit.
“We are looking at two different players
and the possibility they can come,â€
Emery told a news conference on
Monday ahead of Tuesday’s Premier
League game against Cardiff City.
“This transfer window is not easy and
the message is the club is working on
different players and the possibility if it
can be is good for us.â€
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Centre back Sokratis Papastathopoulos
faces a spell on the sidelines due to an
ankle injury and fellow defender
Laurent Koscielny has bruised his jaw.
Full back Hector Bellerin and central
defender Rob Holding have long-term
knee injuries.
Emery said he did not want to sign
defensive cover because it would lead to
problems when his injured players
returned to fitness.
“We have enough players, centre-backs
in the squad,†he said. “We’re having a
lot of injuries and a lot in this position.
If we can bring another player and
when all the players want to play we
can have a lot of trouble in future.â€
Arsenal, fifth in the league and three
points behind Chelsea in fourth, were
knocked out of the FA Cup by
Manchester United on Friday.
Emery said the cup exit would allow his
team to put all their efforts into
qualifying for the Champions League.
“Our focus now is very clear - the
Premier League,†he added. “We’re also
going to play the Europa League with
big motivation. It’s one way to the
Champions League.â€