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Injury-hit Arsenal FC are reportedly looking into the possibility of signing Bordeaux midfielder Henri Saivet in the January transfer window.
However, the Gunners are not the only club pursuing the Senegal international’s signature, with the likes of Everton, Tottenham Hotspur, Swansea City, Bournemouth, and Aston Villa also closely following the development of the 25-year-old, according to the Daily Mirror.
Arsenal FC have had a great start to the season, and are in contention to win the Premier League, being just two points behind league-leaders Manchester City. However, the Gunners have slipped off the pace a little bit, having dropped seven out of a possible nine points in November.
Henri Saivet: A winger turned midfielder
The Senegalese player has been playing on the wings all his life, but Bordeaux FC manager Willy Sagnol spotted something in Saivet that prompted him to shift the 25-year-old’s position from the flanks to the heart of the midfield.
Saivet has thrived since then, and has even caught the eye of many English scouts when he scored Bordeaux’s only goal in their 2-1 defeat at the hands of Liverpool FC last week in the Europa League.
Injury-inflicted Gunners need backup
Arsenal FC’s horrendous form in November can be attributed partly to the relatively small size and depth of their squad. Another key factor that has led to their November blues is the fact that their key players seem to be getting injured as bit too often.
Currently, 10 of their players are suffering from injuries, and this is something that has been bothering manager Arsene Wenger for quite some time. Out of these 10 players, five — Santi Cazorla (knee), Francis Coquelin (knee), Mikel Arteta (knock), Tomas Rosicky (knee), and Jack Wilshere (ankle) — are out-and-out midfielders.
This explains why Arsenal FC might be a bit too keen on getting Saivet on board. Also, the fact that the Senegalese midfielder might be available in January for a paltry sum of A?3.5 million, is another factor that could prompt Wenger to make that bid.