Arsenal great Paul Merson has questioned why his former club did not rival Manchester United for Eric Bailly in the summer transfer window.
Bailly, 22, completed a £30million move from Villarreal to Old Trafford at the beginning of June and the defender has impressed in his early showings for the Red Devils under Jose Mourinho.
Meanwhile, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger continues his search for a centre-back following injuries to Per Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista in pre-season.
On Bailly, Merson vented on Sky Sports: ‘The Man United centre-half looks like a centre-half. You look at Eliaquim Mangala last year and you thought “£30m, that was a bit strong!”‘
‘But I just look at the Man United lad [Bailly] and I think “why haven’t Arsenal gone for him?”‘
‘Wenger went to that club and inherited one of the best back fours of all-time. I’ll give him [Laurent] Koscielny and the other was Sol Campbell who was a no-brainer.
‘Since then you can reel off 20 centre-halves who don’t even make up one player.
‘What’s the problem?! He’s sitting next to one of the best centre-halves Arsenal have had in Steve Bould!’
Read more: http://metro.co.uk/2016/08/21/arsenal-legend-paul-merson-asks-arsene-wenger-why-he-didnt-rival-manchester-united-for-eric-bailly-6080945/#ixzz4HzxZN2T7
