New €18m defender in frame, as Arsenal boss Arteta makes contact
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has made a move for Lyon defender Jason Denayer, according to a report.
Arteta is hoping to strengthen his defence this summer with the futures of a number of his defenders up in the air.
Football.London reported that five Arsenal players look likely to be offloaded at the end of the season with Arteta possibly earning around £120million to put into his transfer coffers.
The report claims Shkodran Mustafi, who was close to leaving the club in January, seems likely to move on this summer. Fellow defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos, 32, is also a potential candidate to be moved on, given his age.
Sead Kolasinac is another defender who could leave in the summer with his high wages a consideration for Arteta, who will hope to have Kieran Tierney fit next term, as well as rising star Bukayo Saka.
Also the future of David Luiz is unclear, although it’s understood he has been in talks about extending his time with the club.
Whatever, happens with Luiz, Arteta will add a defender to his squad and TodoFichajes report that former Man City man Denayer is a target.
€18m defender in frame
The 24-year-old centre-back is out of contract in 2022 and, per the source, Lyon value the Belgium international at around the €18m mark.
Denayer’s value has rocketed in the last 12 months after impressing in Ligue 1 and making 37 appearances in all competitions this season.
Denayer joined Lyon for just €6.5m in 2018, signing a four-year contract after leaving City, but he could be offered a return to England now with Arsenal.
The Gunners are said to have made contact over a transfer for Denayer, whom Lyon’s head of recruitment Florian Maurice described as powerful and versatile in 2018.
“Jason is a player we have been following for three seasons now. He has all the characteristics sought by Bruno: versatility because he is able to play all the positions of the defence, intelligence of play, placement, speed, and power in duels,” said Maurice.