Arsenal could soon announce the shock signing of Manchester United defender Mikaël Silvestre for a value in the region of £750,000
Who is Mikaël Silvestre?
His Full Name is Mikaël Samy Silvestre was born on Chambray-lès-Tours, France at August 9, 1977.
Silvestre began his career with the French club Rennes in the 1995/96 season and in the 1997/98 season was signed by Inter Milan. Then he signed for Manchester United on September 10, 1999 for £3.5 million.
Silvestre is 31 years old and can play both left back and center back and has the Premier League experience that Arsene Wenger said that he wanted in the squad.
Silvestre is quick and powerful and would gel well with the French players in the squad. The Guardian claims that Wenger wants to partner Silvestre with Gallas in the center of defence. I wondered why Kieran Gibbs was being loaned out to Reading when we do not have enough left back cover and this could well be the reason.
Silvestre is not the commanding, organising leader that most of us thought Wenger would be looking to sign, like Toure and Gallas he is another recovery, speedy man marker.
I actually think this is the sort of signing we need. He's not going to play in front of Gallas or Toure, but he is a steady defender with bags of experience- what we lack on the back benches. More than 250 appearances for ManU td makes him without a doubt an experienced player. Yes, I would prefer Micah Richards or Vincent Kompany, but it is still a big improvement from our Senderos.
Another 2 very positive points is :
1) he wont have a long career at Arsenal and looks unlikely to impede the progress of youngsters like Nordtveit.
2) he is leaving ManUtd on a free, so it’s actually a gamble that costs us almost nothing (besides his wages).
We should see this possible signing as a gamble where we may lots to gain but little to lose and if he turns out shyte, we’ll just flog him to Spain for approx. £2m like we did with Cygan.
We shall see in the next 24 hours if there is any substance to this rumour.
