Borussia Dortmund have now made contact to sign £34m PL player who Arsenal want to buy - Romano
Not ideal ????
Champions League finalists Borussia Dortmund could now beat Arsenal to a target who Mikel Arteta was keen to bring to north London.
Although Riccardo Calafiori is set to have a medical at Arsenal this week, Edu and his transfer team certainly won’t stop there, determined to improve Arteta’s options.
This summer Arsenal have a relatively simple plan: sell players on the periphery of their squad and then find suitable upgrades.
Arsenal are making an exception with Calafiori in that regard, given the Italian will sign for the club before the likes of Jakub Kiwior, Kieran Tierney or even Oleksandr Zinchenko are sold.
If reports are to be believed it would appear as if all three of the names mentioned could leave Arsenal.
Tierney hasn’t been in Arteta’s first team plans for some time and the club’s project seems to be outgrowing Zinchenko’s incomplete skill set.
And in terms of Kiwior, well Calafiori represents an obvious upgrade, and the funds generated from selling the Poland international will be important with PSR in mind.
Borussia Dortmund now in contact to sign Arsenal target Yan Couto
Over the years Arsenal haven’t been adverse from buying players already in the Premier League, particularly ones at Arteta’s former club, Manchester City.
The Gunners signed Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus from Pep Guardiola’s team, and Arsenal are reportedly also interested in Yan Couto.
The 22-year-old signed for City in 2020 but is yet to make a senior appearance for the club having regularly been on loan at Girona.
And after starring for the Spanish side last season, Arsenal have reportedly been taking interest in the availability of the defender.
That being said, Fabrizio Romano has just shared on X that Dortmund are now in contact with City to sign Couto.
Romano stated: “Borussia Dortmund have made contact with Man City to discuss Yan Couto deal conditions.
“BVB are not [intending] to pay €40m release clause, negotiating on price while Couto’s keen on the move.
“BVB plan to invest around €20/25m as Sky Germany reported.”
Perhaps Arsenal will consider that Calafiori’s imminent arrival will negate the need to add players on the right side of their defence, given Jurrien Timber could then switch across.
But either way, it seems as if Couto, who can also play as a right-winger, could soon be heading to the Bundesliga, away from Arsenal’s clutches.
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