Arsenal plan loan move for Bridge

Wayne Bridge (second left) has made just one appearance for City this season. (FILE)

Published Wednesday, December 21, 2011

By Staff

Arsenal are plotting a loan move for Manchester City defender Wayne Bridge who had a training ground bust-up with Roberto Mancini.

Manchester City boss Mancini accused Bridge on Tuesday of being happy to just pick up his £90,000-a-week wages even though he is not playing, according to Mirror Football.

Those remarks came just 24 hours after a furious war of words between Bridge and the Italian in front of the rest of the City first-team squad, the report added.

Bridge would be a perfect solution for Arsenal's defensive woes.

Arsenal are anxious to sign a left-back on loan as Kieran Gibbs has suffered a new injury setback and Andre Santos was ruled out for three months with an ankle injury.

Manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed he is in the market for a loan signing to strengthen that injury-hit defence.

Wenger said: "It depends now on Gibbs. He sees a specialist again and if something happens there, that he has had a real setback, then possibly, yes (he would be interested in a deal).

"It is not a shop, you just take a good opportunity that is on the market when you can.

"Overall, that's what we are doing at the moment. We are starting to look at players if Gibbs is not back."

Bridge has been left upset by the latest row as he has maintained his fitness levels, worked hard in training - often with the reserves - and has been desperate to play.

But Mancini chose to play Pablo Zabaleta out of position at left-back against Arsenal on Sunday, sparking a verbal confrontation between the manager and former England left-back.

The situation will test whether City are now prepared to loan Bridge to a Premier League rival.

They blocked a Bridge move to Newcastle in the summer, even though they were ready to do business with Celtic. City refused to do the same deal with the Geordies that they offered to the Scottish side.

Mancini spoke out on Tuesday despite his decision to freeze out Bridge and said: "For a player (like Bridge) it should be important to play football. I don't know why someone would want to stay at one club when they know they cannot play.

"When we are young and start to play football, we don't play for money. We play because we like football and every player should have this target in mind - to play football.

"Wayne is a good guy but for every other player it should be important to play. Wayne has had two or three chances (to go somewhere else).

"In the summer he had the chance to play for Celtic, and this is an important team. I don't know (what he does on Saturdays). Golf?

"It's difficult for a player to stay here every day then not play on Saturdays. When we are here he trains with us and sometimes he trains with the young players."

Mancini confirmed earlier he is willing to sell defenders Wayne Bridge and Nedum Onuoha in the January transfer window.

Former Chelsea left-back Bridge has made just one appearance for City this season, whilst Onuoha, who can play across the back-four, has had only two League Cup outings.

Mancini also admitted City want Bridge and Onuoha to leave permanently rather than on a short-term deal as the club's hierarchy are trying to reduce the wage bill.

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