Arsenal pursuit of Ryan Bertrand a worrying transfer sign

Arsenal are in need of a left-back in the summer transfer window and as their terrified fans lie in wait of how the inexperience heads in charge of the club plan to forge this rebuild, a pursuit of Ryan Bertrand shows they’ve learned nothing.

Back in January Arsenal submitted an offer to Southampton for the experienced defender, a move they sorely needed to pull off to add some cover for Kieran Tierney, who inevitably stayed injured which acted as the springboard for the season’s woeful climax.

With the campaign effectively over for the Gunners and June 9 approaching, work is underway to start the numerous surgical procedures needed to gut this squad of mediocrity and inject genuine quality into it.

It’s not just about bringing better players in. Arsenal have to strike a balance between signing appropriate profiles to both improve the squad and build for the years to come.

Arsenal pursuit of Ryan Bertrand a worrying transfer sign that ambition is gone and lessons aren’t learned by clueless club

Which is why their continued pursuit of Ryan Bertrand is exceedingly worrying.

As per Goal, Arsenal are battling Man City, Monaco and AC Milan for the left-back’s signature, who will leave Southampton when his contract expires in the summer and is after the ‘last big move of his career’.

He will be 32 in August, and given his desires, will be looking for a two-year contract at the minimum, as well as weekly wages possibly in the six figures. This is Arsenal, after all, they’ll cough up.

Where is the ambition? What happened to securing a young, hungry left-back to be developed and nurtured under Tierney who will, with no Europe, play the occasional cup game and master his craft? The only way there is any sense in this is if he comes for one year (won’t happen) and another young left-back is signed who can be sent out on loan – that too won’t happen.

Bertrand will have no significant impact despite being a decent player, will pick up his likely high wages for three or so years and barely play. This has happened before under this ownership and under previous structures. Arsenal seldom learn.

An uninspiring way to start summer transfer window. Arsenal need a serious rethink and they’re sticking to old habits. Hopes rest on Bertrand fancying somewhere sunny other than London, in which case, Monaco, do your thing.

Although that would probably prompt a three-year deal for Alexander Büttner.