Arsenal Linked With Shock Double Raid On Manchester City

With the summer transfer window now open, there is plenty of gossip doing the rounds in the newspapers so we’ll keep you up-to-date with the latest transfer rumours. Today, Arsenal are linked with a double raid on Manchester City for Gareth Barry and Micah Richards.

Gunners linked with shock Barry move

First up and the Sun are claiming that Arsenal are lining up a shock move for Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry after being knocked back in their attempts to sign Bayer Leverkusen’s Lars Bender.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger appears to be on the look-out for a defensive minded midfielder this summer and the newspaper suggests his search has lead him to Barry, who’s got just one year left to run on his £100,000-a-week contract at City and could be available for just £3.5m.

The report claims Wenger doesn’t see the 32-year-old as a regular starter but would be prepared to offer him a two-year deal on reduced wages if he agreed to make the switch to the Emirates. An apparent ‘source’ told the Sun:

“It looks like Arsenal are just weighing things up at the moment and they do have other priorities. But they know Gareth would do a good job for them.”

I’m not a huge fan of so-called ‘sources’ and it looks like silly-season has well and truly begun with this transfer rumour. Why would Arsenal go from trying to sign Bender – a 24-year-old coming into the prime of his career worth around £20m – to Barry, who’s coming to the end of his career for £3.5m?! It makes no sense and I personally don’t believe this report for one second.

Wenger eyes Richards

Now a far more believable rumour comes from the Mirror, who claim that Arsenal are showing an interest in signing Manchester City defender Micah Richards, who they see as a potential replacement for Bacary Sagna.

Richards has struggled to establish himself at the Etihad in recent years and a series of injuries restricting him to just 7 appearances last season. The Mirror suggests that City are keen to keep hold of him and are lining up a new contract offer, but the 25-year-old is understood to be keen to explore his options as he seeks more first team opportunities.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is identifying possible replacements for Bacary Sagna – who has just one year left on his contract and has so far been unable to agree terms over an extension – and the report claims the Frenchman is interested in bringing Richards to the Emirates if Sagna is sold this summer.

The newspaper suggests that the versatile defender would cost around £12m but Arsenal would face stiff competition from Inter Milan if City make him available for transfer.

I still expect Richards to stay with City this summer but if he does decide to leave a move to Arsenal would be a realistic possibility and would give him the chance to revive his career.

Read more Arsenal transfer news | Man City transfer news

What do you make of these transfer rumours? Do you think Arsenal have any interest in either Barry or Richards? Get involved in the comments section below.