Arsenal are set for a frantic final 24 hours of the summer transfer window, according to BBC journalist David Ornstein.
After signing Nicolas Pepe from Lille earlier in the window, the defence is the main focus for Unai Emery now.
Arsenal still want to complete a deal want a deal for Celtic defender Kieran Tierney and Chelsea centre-back David Luiz is one of the centre-backs they’re trying to bring in by Thursday.
In terms of outgoings, young striker Eddie Nketiah is probably going to move to Leeds on loan, while Everton will be able to sign Alex Iwobi if they make a suitable offer.
Everton tabled a £30m offer earlier on Wednesday but this was reported to have been rejected by Goal.
Ornstein reported the Arsenal news on his personal Twitter page on Wednesday afternoon.
David Luiz is among options Arsenal working on for centre-back – delicate but not for 1st time (see 31/01/18) #AFC keen. Kieran Tierney remains a target, Eddie Nketiah still deciding but likely Leeds, Alex Iwobi will happen IF Everton make suitable offer #EFC #LUFC #CFC #CelticFC
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) August 7, 2019
Plugging the leaks crucial
Arsenal didn’t have many problems scoring last season.
They scored 73 goals, more than Tottenham and Chelsea ahead of them in the league. In fact, only runaway leaders Liverpool and Man City scored more. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang shared the Golden Boot with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.
Things were rather different at the other end. Only Man United conceded more goals in the top nine teams in the Premier League.
Arsenal also lost centre-back Laurent Koscielny this summer as he forced a move to Bordeaux.
It’s why Arsenal fans would have been a bit puzzled, although delighted, to see prolific attacker Nicolas Pepe, sign. He scored 22 goals and registered 11 assists for Lille last season and was one of only two players in the top five European leagues who scored more than 20 and added more than 10 assists – the other was Lionel Messi.
However, Arsenal desperately need defensive reinforcements and their move for Tierney looks like it’s going down to the wire.
Arsenal keen to sign Celtic left-back Kieran Tierney for years & finally have their man, subject to medical tomorrow (no formality given injuries but should be ok). Contact re-established this morning via Raul Sanllehi call to Peter Lawwell & deal swiftly concluded #AFC #CelticFC https://t.co/ZgayeIwX14
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) August 7, 2019
A centre-back is also a must and Luiz would be a brilliant, if somewhat surprising, signing.
According to Liam Twomey from The Athletic, “David Luiz didn’t train today with Arsenal interested in signing him before the transfer window shuts on Thursday.”
He went on to say, “Luiz was at Cobham and those I’ve spoken to stress he didn’t refuse to train, but we’re into the world of semantics now. The reality is that one of Chelsea’s most experienced players – and perhaps more pertinently his agent, Kia Joorabchian – are making a big play to move to north London, setting up a wild final 24 hours of the window.”
It would be another dramatic move for Luiz if it does come off, after the centre-back re-joined Chelsea from PSG on deadline day in the summer of 2016.
All eyes will be on Arsenal tomorrow to see if they can make it happen.