Arsenal have reportedly submitted a bid of £30million for Ajax defender Jurrien Timber as Mikel Arteta looks to add depth to his defensive ranks. The offer is said to have fallen short of the Eredivisie outfit’s asking price though there is ‘optimism’ that a deal will be reached.
The Gunners paid the price for their lack of depth in defence last season which played a major role in Manchester City pipping them to the Premier League title. But Arteta is keen to rectify the issue as soon as possible by adding a versatile defender to his ranks.
Galatasaray’s Sacha Boey and Real Valladolid’s Ivan Fresneda have both been linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium, though the north London outfit appear to have settled on an alternative target.
According to The Athletic, Arsenal are ‘working on a deal’ for Ajax star Timber and are hopeful that they will strike a deal for his services. They have submitted a bid of approximately £30m for the services of the 22-year-old, which falls short of the defender’s asking price of £50m.
Talks are expected to continue between the two clubs as a result, though all parties are ‘optimistic’ that a deal will be agreed upon. Personal terms are ‘in place’ and Timber is also keen to make the move to the Emirates Stadium.
The Netherlands international has two years left on his contract with Ajax though a move to the Premier League has been on the cards previously, with Manchester United previously attempting unsuccessfully to lure him away from the Eredivisie 12 months ago.
Despite a reunion with Erik ten Hag proving tempting, the defender ultimately decided to remain at the Johan Cruyff Arena in fear of damaging his hopes of playing at the Qatar World Cup last December due to a stern warning from international manager Louis van Gaal.
Arsenal’s interest could come at the right time for the Ajax academy graduate and allow the club that helped him develop to earn a significant fee for his services. Timber can play as a central defender as well as a right-back, making him a like-for-like alternative to Ben White.
When injuries have hit Arsenal in central defence, they have struggled to plug holes in their backline and the addition of the Ajax star would address the matter sufficiently. Arteta will also be considering how his side will be pushing for success in the Champions League and relying on his squad depth to rotate in all competitions.
