Arsenal muscle Man Utd off explosive signing who’ll make Saka twice as deadly

Arsenal are a contender to sign a Dutch international wanted by Man Utd who’d add an explosive element to their right flank and help take Bukayo Saka’s game to new heights, per reports.

The Gunners’ limitations at right-back were exposed during the 3-1 defeat to Man City on Wednesday night. Takehiro Tomiyasu stood in for Ben White and was guilty of gifting the opening goal to Kevin de Bruyne through a sloppy backpass.

The Japan international looked nervy all night and offered little going forward too. On the one occasion he did find himself in a dangerous position, Tomiyasu blazed over the crossbar with a left-footed volley.

White was dropped to the bench for the clash and has generally been Mikel Arteta’s preferred option in the position this term.

However, the 25-year-old is a natural centre-half and as such, struggles to influence the game going forward too. Indeed, he’s notched zero goals and just two assists from 28 appearances in all competitions this season.

Now, reports out of Spain claim Arsenal are in the mix to sign Man Utd target Denzel Dumfries.

Netherlands ace can transform Arsenal right side

The Dutchman plies his trade at club level for Inter Milan and as a wing-back, excels in the attacking side of the game.

Dumfries, 26, has scored seven goals and provided 10 assists in his 71 outings for Inter. He was also among the Netherlands’ top performers at the World Cup and caught the eye of Arsenal great Martin Keown.

The former PSV Eindhoven man has helped Inter offset the loss of Achraf Hakimi to PSG in 2021. However, widespread reports state the Italian side are under financial pressure and could sell one of their best players to remedy the issue.

TEAMtalk understands Lautaro Martinez is one contender to make way. Arsenal, Man Utd and Chelsea are all keeping a close watch on the Argentine hitman.

Dumfries is another prime candidate and it’s claimed Arsenal and Man Utd are ‘very interested’ in securing a move.

United have their own conundrum with Aaron Wan-Bissaka limited going forward. He did earn a stay of execution in January through a series of solid displays, though Erik ten Hag may yet show a ruthless streak and push for an attacking upgrade.

Both they and Arsenal are assessing a Dumfries move, per the report from Spain. It’s claimed the Dutchman is ‘facing his last months as a footballer for Inter Milan’, thus suggesting he’ll be the one to help balance their books.

How much will Inter demand?

Inter are understood to require €60m (£53.5m) to remedy their books. In what is clearly not a coincidence, Gazzetta dello Sport previously reported Inter value Dumfries at €60m.

However, it may not take a fee of that size for either Arsenal or Man Utd to pull off the move. More recently, Inter Live claimed a more modest €40m (£35.7m) could be enough.

In the event Dumfries were brought to north London, the effects on Bukayo Saka could be game-changing.

Saka is already a two-time and reigning Arsenal Player of the Year. However, with both White and Tomiyasu limited going forward and often reluctant to overlap, Saka does not get the help many right wingers in the league are given.

The Hard Tackle suggest an attack-minded addition like Dumfries who’d be more than willing to overlap and drag defenders away would make Saka even more potent. That would ring especially true if it ensures opposing teams can no longer double up.

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