Arsenal are looking to loan out their lovely Per

Matt Stead

Arsenal are considering loaning out Per Mertesacker in order to give him the opportunity to prove he deserves a new contract.

Mertesacker has failed to make an appearance this season after suffering a knee injury in the summer.

The 32-year-old, who was made club captain in August, returned to training in December, but will struggle to displace Laurent Koscielny or Shkodran Mustafi in the Gunners’ starting line-up.

His contract at the Emirates Stadium expires in June, and The Times claim that Arsenal are ‘are exploring the possibility’ of sending him out on loan.

Matt Hughes writes:

‘Arsenal are unlikely to agree a loan deal for Mertesacker with a rival Premier League club, particularly given the embarrassment that Jack Wilshere’s success for Bournemouth has brought them, and a return to Germany is the most likely outcome.

‘While Arsène Wenger said last week that he was open to extending Mertesacker’s contract, that is not guaranteed and it is contingent upon him proving his form and fitness during the rest of the season.’

That being said, Bournemouth want John Terry. Why not create the slowest centre-half pairing ever?