Almost Done – Arsenal Close To CB Signing But He Is Injury Prone

They were reports that emerged last week about Arsenal’s interest in French and Marseille defender Stephane Sparagne. According to the reports, Arsenal is itching closer to signing the centre back. The 19 year old’s contract runs out in December, and there are indications that Arsenal could secure his signature in the January transfer window on a free transfer.

However, there is a reason why the defender’s contract has been allowed to run down so close to its expiration. It is because he has endured a miserable time with injuries since he graduated from Marseille’s youth Academy. He has made just one appearance for the first team which came in August against Bastia in the opening week of Ligue 1.

The player’s current injury history calls for examination on why Arsenal would want to sign yet another injury prone player. Arsene Wenger was lucky with Mars Overmars who was an injury wreck when he joined Arsenal in the early years of the Frenchman’s reign. However the club has not been so fortunate with the risk involved in signing players that have a history of injuries. Abou Diaby is a case in point, and recently Yaya Sanogo has joined that group having struggled with injuries before he joined the club, and has been out for Arsenal since August.

So the question now is why would Arsene Wenger and Arsenal consider signing a player that has a terrible history of injuries. His present club is holding back on a new contract because of the same reason, yet Arsenal have an intention to sign him because for obvious reasons he would come cheap.

What is the chance that he would come cheap, and yet turn out to be an expensive player when he spends half his time on the injury table, just like Abou Diaby who has been injured like forever?

The defender though is still interesting French side Rennes, and it is looking like the French side could yet beat Arsenal to his signing, thereby saving the club the ignominy of signing another injury prone player.

The club cannot afford to settle for just any defender on the pretext that it would do much to improve the team. Stephane Sparagna cannot be said to be an upgrade on what the club currently have in the youth team before bringing up the names in the first team. He has just a single appearance to his name in ligue 1, and the South of France based club are looking to throw him out because of his record of injuries, Arsenal should not be seen picking another injury reject. Because, the club’s record of managing injuries have not been stellar, and adding another injury prone player to the list of players currently on the books of the club who are prone to injuries, would only exacerbated the situation.