Arsenal are reportedly considering a move for AC Milan defender Ricardo Rodriguez in a bid to solve their injury crisis.
Boss Unai Emery revealed Nacho Monreal is a doubt to face Manchester City in the Gunners’ Premier League opener as he recovers from a minor knee problem.
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Sead Kolasinac, meanwhile, is expected to miss ten weeks with a knee KO of his own.
Youngster Ainsley Maitland-Niles is most likely to start against City but, despite impressing last season, is not a natural left-back.
The Daily Mail claim Emery could turn his efforts to landing highly-rated Switzerland star Rodriguez.
Milan could demand about £30million for him having signed him from Wolfsburg just last summer.
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But Rodriguez, 25, would bring with him experience, quality and a more fluent style of play at left-back.
He began his career at FC Zurich before moving to Wolfsburg in 2012, where he spent five seasons and won the German Cup and Super Cup.
In 2014 he was named Swiss footballer of the year and has 57 caps to his name already.
Rodriguez would link up with countryman Stephan Lichtsteiner should he make the move to the Emirates.
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Emery signed the right-back on a free from Juventus this summer and the defender – who won Serie A seven times with the Old Lady – is confident he and his new team-mates can challenge for silverware.
Speaking after Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Lazio on Saturday, Lichtsteiner said: “We are ready and it was important to show this. I see players with big character and big qualities. I think this team just needs this last fire to explode.
“It’s the same project like seven years ago at Juventus. It’s important to come back into the Champions League. Step by step we will grow and go forward.
“When you are at big clubs like Arsenal it’s important to have in your head the aim to win titles.”