Arsenal have been told to take a ‘gamble’ and move for Brighton captain Lewis Dunk by a club legend.
The Gunners are in need of defensive reinforcements after Shkodran Mustafi was stretchered off with an ankle injury in Monday’s 2-1 FA Cup win at Bournemouth.
The club were close to bringing in Flamengo defender Pablo Mari for £7.5million, but that deal has seemingly collapsed.
According to Ray Parlour, an Invincible who won three Premier League titles with Arsenal, Brighton’s Dunk could be just the man his former club need.
He told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast show: “If I really had to go and buy one, whether you’ve got the money to do it or not, I’d take a gamble on a player like Lewis Dunk.
“£30million, £40million, would Brighton take that? I don’t know.
“I like the way he plays, he’s a proper centre-back. That’s what you need sometimes.
“Sol Campbell was a proper centre-back when I played, he’d stop you scoring, and that’s what you want from your centre-half.
“He doesn’t have to be great on the ball at times. We’re talking about different players [in quality].
“Sol was one of the best centre halves around at that time. But someone like Lewis Dunk, who’s probably a little bit unlucky not to be in more England squads, I’m sure Brighton fans don’t want to be losing a player like that.”
When asked if Mustafi’s injury could accelerate Arsenal’s transfer plans, head coach Mikel Arteta said: “We have a very clear intention of what we wanted to do in the market with the resources we have.
“If we can do it that’s fine but his fitness won’t change that.”
Dunk signed a new five-year contract with Brighton in October 2018 and would not come cheap if Arsenal did make a move.
The Seagulls are 15th in the Premier League table and just two points above the relegation zone, and will not want to lose their influential captain as they fight for survival.
