Solskjaer ‘not surprised’ desperate Arsenal want Bailly but Man Utd boss insists defender is not available on loan

OLE GUNNAR SOLKSJAER is 'not surprised' that Arsenal want Eric Bailly - but insists they won't get him.

The Gunners reportedly made contact with the Red Devils to take the Ivorian on loan for the rest of the season.

Unai Emery has struggled to sort his defence out since arriving at the Emirates in the summer.

Arsenal have conceded 32 goals in the Premier League this term and have struggled with a number of injuries throughout the campaign.

Rob Holding is out for the season with a knee problem while club captain Laurent Koscielny is still working his way back to his best after missing eight months with a ruptured Achilles tendon.

Sokratis, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Nacho Monreal, Shkodran Mustafi and even Granit Xhaka have  featured at centre-back this season.

And it is for that reason they are looking to bring in a defender such as Bailly - although they are reliant on loan deals due to a lack of funds.

Manchester United boss Solskjaer said: "I'm not surprised if they do [want Bailly], put it that way.

"It's just one of those things. It's just speculation and it's not a big surprise."

Bailly, 24, was seen as a potential option because - despite injury problems of his own this season - he does not appear to be in Solskjaer's plans.

He remained on the bench for the wins over Cardiff, Huddersfield and Brighton. In his only appearance under the Norwegian, he was sent off for a two-footed lunge on Bournemouth's Ryan Fraser.

Solskjaer may give Bailly a run-out against Arsenal tomorrow, though, in the FA Cup fourth round.

The former Villarreal star missed the third-round game against Reading as he was still serving his suspension.