Fabrizio Romano says Arsenal have found their Jakub Kiwior replacement

Arsenal are being linked with a move for a centre-back as they look to add depth at the position this summer. The Gunners have been hit by a reality check over recent weeks with Gabriel Magalhaes seeing his season ending early due to injury.

Mikel Arteta has relied heavily on Gabriel and William Saliba, his to star centre-backs, in recent times, and having been left short up top, they can’t afford to find themselves in a similar situation at the back.

Unlike the striker situation, Arsenal do have some depth in the form of Jakub Kiwior, who has done very well in Gabriel’s absence, but he has been heavily linked with an exit this summer as he looks to become a regular starter, something he won’t achieve at the Emirates Stadium.

Meanwhile, Arsenal also have Ben White and Jurrien Timber, but Arteta prefers to use both at full-back, preferring to use them in the centre in emergency situations. The Gunners need to strengthen a number of positions this summer, with a striker the clear priority, while they could also do with a winger and a centre-midfielder.

Centre-back could well be an area they buy at, though, and especially if Kiwior does depart, and Fabrizio Romano believes the Gunners have their eyes on AFC Bournemouth centre-back Dean Huijsen, who has established himself as one of the best young defenders in world football. At 20 years of age Huijsen has become a key player for Bournemouth and their European charge, while he is already a two-time Spain senior international.

Romano told GiveMeSport: “From what I’m hearing, Arsenal are also interested. Newcastle dream of him, but I think for Newcastle, it is going to be very difficult to get the deal done now with Chelsea, Liverpool, and Arsenal. These three clubs are really interested, so I think he’s going to stay in the Premier League.”

Huijsen has a £50million release clause, but the level of competition will inevitably make a deal tricky, with Real Madrid having also been linked. Ultimately, it will be up to Huijsen who he joins if more than one team activate his release clause this summer.

Whether Arsenal will spend that much on a centre-back given their other needs remain to be seen, but if they do, Huijsen is clearly one of the better options, given his performances this season and clear potential at such a young age.

Kiwior impact

Kiwior stepped up in a big way in the second leg against Real Madrid, and he has performed well since in Gabriel’s absence, too. Speaking after the Real Madrid win, Arteta said: “Super difficult, it’s very difficult to do what he’s done. I’m really impressed with him. I don’t know if the word is surprise, because the way he trains, the way he commits to every drill in training, the way he reacts when he’s not playing, it’s phenomenal.

“But then you have to do that against the best strikers in the world. The partnership [with Saliba], the way they work together, I think they really both step up.”

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