According to the Guardian, new Arsenal manager Unai Emery wants the Gunners to agree a deal for Stephan Lichtsteiner. The 34-year-old is out of contract with Juventus this summer and will be available on a free transfer. Arsenal are keen on procuring his signature.
Lichtsteiner confirmed his exit from Juve to Mediaset earlier this month, saying: “I’m playing in one of the biggest clubs in Europe and there’s always competition for places. But my future is going to be away from Turin. At the end of the season I’m leaving. I’ll play abroad next year but I’ve not signed anything yet.”
The experienced defender joined Juventus from Lazio in 2011 and has gone on to make 259 appearances in all competitions. He’s won seven Serie A titles and four Coppa Italias with the Old Lady and was a first-team regular in his final season in Turin. Now his contract is up, he’s on the look-out for another club.
Lichtsteiner won’t be a regular in the first-team at Arsenal, as Hector Bellerin has nailed down a starting place in the last two-to-three seasons, but he’ll provide adequate cover without the Gunners having to break the bank.
Emery won’t be blessed with a lot of money to spend this summer, so opting for an experienced free transfer is a smart way to circumvent that. The Swiss international will surely be delighted to have the chance to play at a high level too and could feature in the domestic cups whenever Bellerin is given a rest.