Former Everton striker Marcus Bent has hinted to This is Futbol that Arsenal could sign Ryan Bertrand this summer.
The 31-year-old left-back recently announced that he’ll be leaving Southampton at the end of his current contract which expires next month.
Should Bertrand join Arsenal?
Yes!
No!
However, the former Chelsea defender is yet to decide his next club, with a host of Premier League names interested in signing the free transfer following seven successful seasons at St Mary’s.
Arsenal, who failed in their attempts to sign Bertrand in January, are one of those sides, and are reportedly going to try their luck once again, with Mikel Arteta in desperate need of competition for Kieran Tierney having sold their only other recognised left back Sead Kolasinac last summer.
Such was their desperation, the Gunners boss used Granit Xhaka at left-back when the Scot was out injured last month, so it’s no great surprise he’s looking to add to that department.
Bent lives locally to the Southampton defender, and days before speaking exclusively to This is Futbol, he bumped into Bertrand and quizzed him on those links to the Emirates.
“Arsenal are linked with him. I asked him yesterday, he kind of smiled at me and didn’t give me an answer,” he laughed.
“I haven’t spoken to him since. But with the likes of Arsenal and him talking to them, if that is going to happen, that is the future for him. He’s top half of the table, and a good squad player to have around the club.”