Arsenal keen on soon-to-be relegated defender this summer
Mikel Arteta and Arsenal are reportedly keeping tabs on Leicester City and Belgium defender Timothy Castagne this summer as they look to bolster their ranks on a budget this summer.
The Gunners, who will play Champions League football again next season for the first time since 2017, are expected to spend heavily this summer with the likes of Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo both on the wishlist Arteta and Edu Gaspar.
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West Ham United’s Declan Rice (left) and Arsenal’s Thomas Partey battle for the ball during the Premier League match at the London Stadium, London. Picture date: Sunday April 16, 2023. 2PN3BYJ West Ham United’s Declan Rice (left) and Arsenal’s Thomas Partey battle for the ball during the Premier League match at the London Stadium, London. Picture date: Sunday April 16, 2023. (Alamy Stock Photo)
Another position that they are keen to strengthen is central defence, with Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi on the shopping list, though he won’t come cheap. They have also been linked with Bayer Leverkusen forward Moussa Diaby, though they will face competition from fellow Champions League club Newcastle United for his signature.
Though they will not stop there, their recruitment beyond that is expected to be somewhat more on a budget, which has led them to consider Castagne as an option.
The versatile Leicester City man can play on either flank, though he has spent most of the current campaign at right-back. According to the Daily Mirror, ‘Gunners scouts have made checks’ on the 27-year-old Belgian, who could be available on the cheap this summer.
As it stands, there is expected to be something of a firesale at the King Power Stadium, with the Foxes staring down the barrel of relegation from the top flight. With three games left to play, the Foxes are two points from safety, and will need to find at least that many from their final games against Liverpool, Newcastle United and West Ham.
Should they fail to do so, all of James Maddison, Harvey Barnes, Wilfried Ndidi and Castagne are among those expected to leave the midlands outfit, while Arsenal-linked Youri Tielemans is set to leave on a free transfer.
