Arsenal transfer news: Arsene Wenger compares new left-back Cohen Bramall to Ashley Cole
Three Premier League titles, seven FA Cup winner's medals, 107 England caps. No pressure...
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Your support makes all the difference.He may have been plucked from non-league obscurity, but Arsene Wenger thinks Arsenal's new boy can be one of the very best.
Cohen Bramall completed his switch to the Emirates from Hednesford Town on Thursday morning for a fee of £40,000 and Wenger has backed the left-back to establish himself in the Premier League, comparing him to former Arsenal star Ashley Cole.
"He's an exceptional physical talent," the Frenchman told beIN Sports. "I don't think he's ready, today, to play in the Premier League but he has similarities to a young Ashley Cole."
Arsenal fans will surely be excited at the prospect of signing a player of similar quality to Cole. After coming through the Arsenal academy, he went on to win two Premier League titles and three FA Cups with the club, in a career that saw him win 107 England caps.
They will, however, perhaps be hoping Bramall does not leave the club under the same cloud as his forerunner.
Elsewhere in the transfer window, the Gunners have been linked with Ricardo Pereira, the Porto right-back who has impressed on loan at Ligue 1 high-flyers Nice this season.
According to the Daily Star, Wenger is preparing a £20m bid for the Portugal international.
Pereira would come in as competition for Hector Bellerin who was arguably at fault for two Bournemouth goals in the 3-3 draw on Tuesday.
But any hopes of further big money moves in the window were dampened by comments Wenger made in a press conference on Thursday morning.
When asked whether he was looking to bring in replacements for the injured Danny Welbeck and Santi Cazorla, Wenger said: "There is very little hope to find players of that quality in the transfer market."
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