Emirates Stadium side plan move to bring in England international after seeing Kieran Gibbs once again sidelined.
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Arsene Wenger is readying an emergency move to bring in England international Leighton Baines. The Gunners boss has seen youngster Keiran Gibbs once again sidelined with an all too predictable injury and will now look to lure the Everton left-back before the transfer window slams shut.
The Arsenal boss is wary of being left with having to play off form Brazilian Andre Santos as cover for Gibbs and has been scouting 27 year old Toffees star Baines for a number of months with a view to making a move for the former Wigan Athletic man in the summer but now the Frenchman wants to bring the move forward.
Baines has proven himself to be a hugely reliable player both defensively as well on the attack, the set piece specialist is a pivotal part of David Moyes’s first team and a player the Scot would be loathed to lose.
Having seen Jack Rodwell sold in the summer and being all too aware of Everton’s financial problems Moyes may well expect to see chairman Bill Kenwright considering decent offers for any of the club’s top performers, regardless of when such bids are made.
Wenger is reportedly keen to express his interest and is willing to launch a £15m bid today, but does so in the knowledge that such a move could be unlikely at this late stage but also hoping that such a move makes it clear to Leighton Baines that they are interested in acquiring his services, a move that may become all the more plausible if Everton fail in their pursuit of securing a Champions League berth, and doubly so if Arsenal are the side to beat the Goodison Park side to the punch.
Arsene Wenger has consistently stated that he would only be pushed into transfer action if he felt areas of his squad needed strengthening and then only doing so if a player of quality could be brought in that would represent a real improvement in said area.
Leighton Baines may well tick both those boxes given the injury suffered by Gibbs last night.