Parlour wanted £50m-rated star at Arsenal, now Gunners have trump card – TBR View

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Ray Parlour urged Arsenal to complete a move to sign Brighton defender and captain Lewis Dunk back in January, and now the Gunners may have just been given their best chance to heed the Invincible star’s advice.

The Gunners have been crying out for a rock-solid central defender and Dunk certainly fits the bill. The 28-year-old is excellent in the air and has got better and better with the ball at his feet in recent seasons.

A leader, The Sun claim Chelsea are interested and rate him at £50million. Back in January, Gunners legend Parlour stated that he wanted to see his old side consider a big-money move to land the one-time England defender.

“I’d take a gamble on a player like Lewis Dunk,” Parlour told TalkSPORT. “I like the way he plays, he’s a proper centre-back. That’s what you need sometimes. He’s a little bit unlucky not to be in more England squads.”

Dunk would certainly be an excellent addition to Arsenal’s side and Mikel Arteta may have just been handed the trump card he needs to convince Brighton into selling their skipper – and beat Chelsea.

It comes in the form of Ainsley Maitland-Niles. The Evening Standard report that Brighton want to sign the 22-year-old Arsenal man, after securing Premier League safety on Monday with a 0-0 draw against Newcastle.

Maitland-Niles could be tempted with a move to the south coast – but Brighton’s interest in the England Under-21 star could play into Arsenal’s hands. If the Gunners do heed Parlour’s advice, a player-plus-cash deal would be ideal.

That hands Arsenal a trump card if they do go after Dunk. Including a cash fee and Maitland-Niles in a deal for Dunk could solve Arsenal’s defensive frailties – in a move that suits all parties involved.