Nigel Winterburn thinks Yves Bissouma would suit the current setup at Arsenal and believes the club already have enough cover in midfield.
Yves Bissouma was pencilled in for a move to a big six club this summer after consistently improved performances for Brighton last season. The midfielder has started the season well, helping the club climb up to sixth on the table after four wins from six games so far.
Arsenal were one of the clubs interested in the Malian midfielder, at a time when Granit Xhaka was tipped to leave the club for Roma. The Swiss star stayed put and signed a long term deal with the club and has built a great partnership with Thomas Partey in the centre.
There have been no indications that the Gunners might go back to Brighton in pursuit of Bissouma. Former Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour recently urged the club to sign the Brighton star to strengthen their midfield options further. However, one of his colleagues in Nigel Winterburn, believes a move would not suit the north London side.
Apart from Arsenal’s interest, Liverpool and Manchester United were also reportedly keen on the Malian, who recently explained why he did not move away from Brighton this summer.
The Merseysiders, in particular, were looking for a replacement for Gini Wijnaldum, although they finished the transfer window with just a solitary signing of defender Ibrahima Konate from RB Leipzig.
Winterburn believes that Arsenal already has enough cover and believes the club made a good decision to sign Albert Sambi Lokonga in the summer. Moreover, the former Gooner thinks Bissouma would find it had to start games at any of the other top four clubs, given the quality they already have. Transfer market web posted some of his comments over the midfielder where the former defender explained some factors.
Winterburn said, “I’ve seen Yves Bissouma play quite a few times. He is a good player, but I don’t think I’ve ever been confident enough to come out and make that bold of a statement about a player. Bissouma probably won’t go to Arsenal, given who they have signed, unless the club wants to change things up further.
“I’ve been impressed with Albert Sambi Lokonga. Lokonga will be superb, given what we’ve seen so far. Arsenal has Thomas Partey too. Do they need another player there? Potentially, but then he’d be fighting for the position.
“Is Bissouma even big or good enough for a top-four team? Looking at the current top four, he’d find himself on the bench a fair amount. One thing that is in his favour, though, is he has no shortage in self-confidence.”
