Wood you believe it? Dutch defender linked.

Morning. A really fast early weblog for you.

Let’s begin with some switch information, and a reputation from nowhere. David Ornstein studies we’ve made a suggestion for Ajax defender, Jurrien Timber.

🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal engaged on deal to signal Ajax defender Jurrien Timber. #AFC have made a gap provide price ~£30m. #Ajax need ~£50m however optimism a compromise will likely be reached. Private phrases with Netherlands int’l regarded as in place @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/mdMeSXp3ff

— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) June 19, 2023

He’s a 22 12 months previous centre-half, with 121 appearances for Ajax, and 15 caps for the Netherlands. I don’t assume I’ve ever heard his identify talked about in relation to us up to now, so this can be a little bit of a bolt from the blue. Man Utd had been linked beforehand, the apparent reference to Erik ten Hag enjoying a component there. The Dutch aspect are in search of near €50m, we’ve provided €30m – and so they’ve turned a primary bid down. Holy cow, that by no means occurs!

Right here’s a factor that received’t shock you, regardless of being primarily a central defender, he may also play proper again. We all know how a lot Mikel Arteta values that in his defenders. He has his specialists in William Saliba and Gabriel, gamers who’re basis items and really hardly ever play wherever however the center, however then the likes of Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Jakub Kiwior have been deployed in numerous positions throughout the back-line. I might be mistaken, but it surely looks like he’s one other a type of, a signing to bolster the precise hand aspect of the defence.

It’s nonetheless to be accomplished, clearly, and we don’t know the total plan for him, but it surely’s the type of signing that might have implications for Rob Holding. It pushes him additional down the pecking order, and when you think about he’s going to show 28 in September, you could possibly most likely make a very good case that to satisfy his ambitions of enjoying recurrently, he’s doubtless going to have look elsewhere. I feel there are many Premier League golf equipment who would take his expertise, in order that could be a knock-on impact of any new signing – and he’s a participant I tipped to go in our switch predictions on the Arsecast Additional final week.

What else we would do within the switch market with regards to the defence will depend on two issues now, I feel. First – the health of Tomiyasu. He’s able to enjoying wherever throughout the backline, in each full-back positions and as a centre-half, so if he’s going to be prepared for the beginning of the season, or at the least not too far into it, that will be a giant increase. I get issues about his health, however to me he’s precisely the type of participant the squad wants. Ok to start out, but additionally present that defensive depth if he doesn’t.

The second is Kieran Tierney. It’s all gone a bit quiet with regards his mooted transfer to Newcastle, and there have been ideas that he may keep round. Whether or not that’s simply a part of the switch dance, Arsenal not exhibiting their hand to Newcastle, or Newcastle making an attempt to cut price us down, I don’t know. If he stays, it’d give us expertise and depth on the left, with Tomiyasu another choice there, in addition to Oleksandr Zinchenko, after all. I nonetheless have my suspicions that KT will go, which could require one other addition for the left-hand aspect, however let’s see what occurs.

Lastly for this morning, congrats to Bukayo Saka who scored his first profession hat-trick final evening, as England beat North Macedonia 7-0. Hopefully he can get a pleasant relaxation now earlier than pre-season, and look who was bigging him up after the sport 👀

Proper, that’s it for now. Have a very good one, and we’ll have any additional switch developments over on Arseblog News.

Until tomorrow.