Arsenal Plot Move for Little Known £2m Rated International D
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Arsenal have reportedly made Tunisian international defender Karim Haggui their number one defender target.
The versatile Hannover 96 player predominantly plays at right back, but can also slot in at centre back when required, an adaptability that is thought to appeal to Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.
Chris Samba, Richard Dunne and Per Mertesacker were all linked with a move to north London, with the German international thought to be the preferred choice for the French manager.
However, Wenger appears to have switched his sites to another Bundesliga defender, with reports in Germany and France claiming Arsenal will target Haggui at the end of the season.
A former Bayer Leverkusen and Strasbourg player, it’s thought that Haggui would cost Arsenal in the region of €3 million.
SOURCE: Give Me Football – Official PFA Website
Arsenal supporters may well wish that Arsene Wenger did occasionally just mindlessly splash the cash on an established star rather than always looking to bring in a little known player who he can then turn into a household name.
The North London club have a fairly threadbare defence due to injury concerns over Thomas Vermaelen and to a lesser extent Sebastian Squillaci and are now having to stick with the centre back pairing of Johan Djourou and Laurent Koscielny who have been fairly impressive at times but the Gunners boss is still very much looking for another defender to give him more options at the back.
Haggui is clearly not a big name player but the 27 year old has been in good form at Hannover 96 who are having a great season and the Tunisian international has been a big reason for the up turn in fortunes for Mirko Slomka’s side.
The adaptable defender had three seasons at Bayer Leverkusen before his move to Hannover and was strongly linked with a move to PSG in January but the deal did not come to fruition and clearly the fact that he started his career at Arsene Wenger’s former Strasbourg stamping ground may have something to do with his inside knowledge of the player’s ability.
