Arsenal star tipped for January exit as Premier League rivals 'admire' £25m defender

Arsenal star Jakub Kiwior could be on the move in January if the latest reports from TBR Football are to believed, with Chelsea scouring the market ahead of the next transfer window already.

The Polish star had been heavily linked with a move away from the Emirates in the recently concluded transfer window, with Riccardo Calafiori’s arrival in north London not helping the speculation.

However, the reports indicate that Kiwior, 24, was persuaded to remain in Highbury until at least January, at which point he would be allowed to leave if he wished. Mikel Arteta is said to have personally spoken with the defender about his role in the coming months, convincing Kiwior that he would remain part of the plans for the 2024/25 campaign

A host of clubs from across the continent had all been keeping tabs on the situation with Serie A’s AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus, Roma and Bologna all said to have made enquiries.

Now, however, the interest comes from within the Premier League with Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea understood to be keen on the centre-back. It was hardly a quiet summer for the Stamford Bridge club who welcomed 11 new stars to SW6. At one point over the summer, 42 players were all squeezing into the Chelsea dressing rooms but that has not stopped the club from continuing to peruse their potential January options.

They currently have Wesley Fofana, Malo Gusto, Reece James, Ben Chilwell, Levi Colwill, Benoit Badiashile, Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Cucurella and Axel Disasi all on their books as defenders, so Kiwior would likely need assurance he would break into the playing squad if he were to move west in the capital.

Aston Villa and Brighton are also said to be ‘admirers’ of the 27-time Polish international who is now likely to be fourth in the pecking order in both left-back and centre-back positions. Since arriving at the Emirates 18 months ago, Kiwior has served well but with Calafiori, Jurrien Timber and Oleksandr Zinchenko all ahead of him to take the left flank it remains to be seen how much pitch-time the 24-year-old will enjoy.

He is currently yet to make an appearance in the ongoing campaign. Kiwior is, however, currently on international duty with Poland and started their 3-2 win over Scotland in Glasgow yesterday.