Football Digest: Arsenal stutter against Fulham
Arsenal have passed up on the opportunity to sign Victor Nelsson from Galatasaray. The Danish defender had been touted as a possible replacement for Jurrien Timber, who is set to spend the majority of his first Gunners season sidelined by injury.
Mikel Arteta will have been encouraged by Timber’s potential impact after a solid performance at left-back in the Community Shield earlier this month. The versatile Dutchman can play across the back-line, although supporters were not given long to enjoy his talent.
Suffering a devastating ACL injury against Nottingham Forest is set to keep Timber out of action for the foreseeable future. Exit-linked Rob Holding could deplete Arteta’s defensive options even further if he leaves before Friday’s deadline.
Express Sport understands that Arsenal were recently offered the chance to sign Nelsson during exploratory transfer talks.
Don’t miss… Man Utd submit third transfer ‘query’ alongside Hojbjerg and Spinazzola probes
However, upon learning the terms of the deal, the Gunners decided against pushing ahead with the late-summer swoop. Nelsson would be available for just £21million – the reported value of his Galatasaray release clause.
The 24-year-old has been strongly linked with a move away from Turkey in recent months, with Tottenham and Nottingham Forest each expressing interest.
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info
Read more…
Luis Rubiales’ mum ‘prepared to die’ on hunger strike as pressure mounts[LATEST]
Newcastle star Lascelles ‘attacked as gang threaten to shoot him and brother'[NEWS]
Arsenal have already ‘approached’ Ansu Fati as Chelsea eye Emile Smith Rowe[TRANSFERS]
Nelsson is a central defender by trade, but he appeared on the left-hand side of a back-three for Denmark at last year’s World Cup. The talented defender has 10 international caps, alongside spells at Nordsjaelland and Copenhagen on his CV.
Arsenal have already splashed out on Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Timber during the current window, taking Arteta’s spending north of the £200m mark. Several fringe players have been moved on, but only a fraction of the Gunners’ hefty transfer outlay has been recouped so far.
Arteta was forced to field a makeshift back-four in the 2-2 draw with Fulham on Saturday afternoon. With Timber absent, Jakub Kiwior started at left-back with Thomas Partey on the opposite flank.
Ben White and William Saliba have been the starting centre-back partnership over the first three matches of the campaign, sparking speculation as to whether Gabriel Magalhaes could seek an exit before the end of the week.
Source: Read Full Article
