Danny Mills believes Arsenal should look to sign Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini, suggesting the Belgian could help screen the defence.
Fellaini, who joined Manchester United from Everton for £29m in 2013, has rejected a new contract with the Red Devils, and will be a free transfer at the end of the current season.
United are still keen to tie the 30-year-old down to a new deal, but he could be the subject of interest as the contract talks stall.
Mills says Arsenal should take advantage. He said on BBC Radio 5 Live: “Why would you get rid of him? If you could keep him, why would you allow one of your rivals to take him and make them stronger?
“He does a job. He does what John Obi Mikel did for many years at Chelsea. Keep him and bring somebody else in as well. That would be the ideal scenario.
“It is not like ‘if we keep him, we haven’t got any money left because we’ve got to pay him some wages’. You keep him, allow him to do his job. Fill in when necessary, be a squad player, do all those things.
“He’s scored some important goals because he is a threat. Arsenal would love him, without a shadow of a doubt. Just to sit in front of the back four, win a few headers.”
Fellaini is currently valued at £11m but wouldn’t cost Arsenal a penny if they waited until next summer to sign him. However, United could agree terms with the midfielder earlier if Arsenal don’t make an approach in January, potentially missing out on him entirely.
Personally, I don’t think Fellaini would be a good acquisition for the Gunners. He was a target of Wenger’s in the past, but seeing how he’s been at Manchester United would likely turn Arsenal fans off of wanting him.
While brilliant at winning aerial duels and holding off opposing players, Fellaini’s lack of technical ability and athleticism might prove a problem in the Arsenal side. The 30-year-old isn’t very agile, nor is he proficient in possession.
The Belgian international has also shown himself to be nervous in the holding role and susceptible to mistakes. For better or worse, Wenger has preferred more technical players in the midfielder, rather than raw physicality, so I believe Fellaini should stay away from the Emirates.