Arsenal and Everton are reportedly interested in Steven Nzonzi but the World Cup winner’s age should make his suitors think twice, former England international Emile Heskey tells HITC.
Rumours linking a former Stoke and Blackburn star with a return to the Premier League have become something of a transfer window staple in recent years.
With Roma seemingly moving on from a player who became an unfortunate poster-boy of the ill-fated Monchi era in the Italian capital, Nzonzi is once again taking up space in the gossip columns.
FootMercato reported earlier this month that Everton and Arsenal are (again) keeping tabs on a 32-year-old midfielder who continues to be linked with a move to Goodison Park and the Emirates.
“Arsenal have been following him for several years, even since the days of Arsene Wenger, just like Everton,” a mystery source told Ouest-France last week.
Heskey is a fan of a rangy ball-winner who arguably outshone the likes of Sergio Busquetts and Toni Kroos during a brief and brilliant spell at Sevilla.
But with the likes of Joe Willock, Miguel Azeez and Charlie Patino pushing for first-team opportunities, the ex-Liverpool ace believes the ideal opportunity to bring Nzonzi to North London passed a few years ago.
“I like Steven Nzonzi. I like him a lot, from the time he was playing at Blackburn. He was linked to Arsenal for a long time and I was surprised they never took that up. But now, being of the age that he is, is it really viable?” Heskey wonders.
“You can go up and down a lot of our youth set-ups and find someone with the same energy (as Nzonzi), definitely not with the same experience but the same energy and ability to go and do the job.
“They’ve got Willock. Don’t get me wrong, (the youngsters) will learn from players like Steven Nzonzi but I don’t think that’s the right way or the Arsenal way.”
Nzonzi is on loan at Rennes until the end of the season and, according to Sport, he will make a decision on his future in the summer.
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