With experienced Arsenal right-back Bacary Sagna now looking more and more likely to quit the north London club when his contract expires at the end of June, we take a look at five possible replacements for the France international at the Emirates next season …
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Lukasz Piszczek (Borussia Dortmund)
The north Londoners have been heavily linked with the experienced Poland international for some time now, with the club even coming desperately close to luring the attacking full back to the Emirates last summer when it first became clear that Sagna may not be keen to extend his stay in the capital.
However, at the time the Bundesliga giants refused to allow the 28-year-old to leave the Ruhr Valley, although the Gunners are still expected to return to Dortmund again this summer in an attempt to persuade the Germans to part company with their defender.
Glen Johnson (Liverpool)
The highly rated England international is currently enjoying an eye-catching campaign on both sides of the Merseysiders’ back four such is the 29-year-old’s versatility, however, there are still many question marks surrounding the player’s future at Anfield.
And that is because the defender’s current contract with the Reds now has less than 18 months’ on it left to run and with his employers having so far steadfastly refused to sit down with Johnson to discuss extending his stay at the club beyond next summer, there is every chance that the Englishman will be sold by Liverpool this summer, so opening the door for a sensational switch to Arsenal in the process.
Seamus Coleman (Everton)
Perhaps the most in-form right back currently plying his trade in the Premier League, the Republic of Ireland international has been an absolute revelation for the Toffees so far this season under new head coach Roberto Martinez.
The 25-year-old has so far managed to register an impressive seven goals and one assist in total in his 33 matches in all competitions for the Merseysiders, including an equally eye-catching six strikes and one assist in his 28 league outings for the club.
And it is those kind of attacking numbers that have reportedly led to Arsenal preparing a big-money move for the defender this summer.
Leandro Bacuna (Aston Villa)
The former Netherlands Under-21 international has enjoyed a hugely impressive debut campaign at Villa Park after initially arriving at the west Midlands club from Eredivisie outfit Groningen last summer on a three-year deal, with the right back having managed to hit the back of the net on five occasions in his 28 Premier League matches for Paul Lambert’s strugglers to date.
And the north London club could do a lot worse than signing the Dutchman this summer, especially as the player could be lured to the Emirates for a cut-price fee.
Fabian Schar (FC Basel)
The Gunners have been keeping close tabs out on the highly rated young Switzerland international for some time now, with boss Arsene Wenger having sent his chief scout Steve Rowley over to St-Jacob Park on several occasions so far in this campaign to run his eye over the versatile defender.
And with the Frenchman receiving glowing reports back about the 22-year-old, who is contracted to the Swiss champions only until June 2015, there is now every chance that Wenger will follow up that long-running interest by making a move for the Swiss who can operate either as a centre back or as a right back too.