Harry Redknapp: 'Arsenal should sign Wayne Rooney'

Harry Redknapp speaks at a press conference on March 22, 2016
© AFP
Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp has claimed that Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney would be the perfect player to add experience and leadership to Arsenal.

Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp has claimed that Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney would be the perfect player to add experience and leadership to Arsenal.

Rooney, 31, continues to be linked with a move away from Old Trafford and it is understood that his agent Paul Stretford is currently in China attempting to strike a deal with an unnamed Chinese Super League club.

Redknapp, however, believes that Arsenal should make a move for the Red Devils and England captain, claiming that the forward would provide the leadership qualities that the Gunners lack.

"Arsenal should take a gamble and sign Wayne Rooney on a two-year contract. There's no love lost between Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger but Petr Cech moved between the two managers and Wayne deserves the chance to choose his next move," wrote Redknapp in a column for the London Evening Standard.

"Arsenal looked at him a few years ago so we know Arsene is a fan. He would improve that team overnight because they have an issue with attitude and he is a winner. I watched Arsenal the other night at Sutton and I know it was a difficult pitch but some of their younger players were getting caught in possession, losing it cheaply and were putting their team in danger.

"Everyone always says they have no leaders and that's because it is true. Theo Walcott captained the team the other day. Kieran Gibbs did the same for half an hour against Bayern Munich last week when Laurent Koscielny got injured. Neither of them are true leaders."

"Say what you like about Wayne but his experience and will-to-win is up there with the very best. I saw a couple of Arsenal lads lose the ball and just stand there against Sutton. You need Wayne out there on the pitch getting straight into their faces reminding them what's what."

Rooney, who joined Man United at the age of 18 and is the club's all-time record goalscorer, is said to be keen on remaining with the Red Devils until his contract expires in the summer of 2019.

Roy Keane, manager of Sunderland looks on during the Barclays Premier League match between Sunderland and Bolton Wanderers at The Stadium of Light on November 29, 2008 in Sunderland, England.
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Chelsea26203355193663
2Tottenham HotspurSpurs26158350183253
3Manchester CityMan City25164551292252
4Arsenal25155554282650
5Liverpool26147555332249
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd25139338211748
7Everton26128642271544
8West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom2611783632440
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham2696113544-933
10Stoke CityStoke2688103040-1032
11Burnley2694132837-931
12Watford2687113043-1331
13Southampton2586112831-330
14Bournemouth2675143651-1526
15Leicester CityLeicester2666142744-1724
16Swansea CitySwansea2673163257-2524
17Middlesbrough26410121928-922
18Crystal Palace2664163346-1322
19Hull City2656152350-2721
20Sunderland2654172448-2419
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