With the Arsenal defence in shambles last season in Arsene Wenger’s last season at the Emirates, with only young inexperienced defenders like Mavropanos, Chambers, etc left after Koscielny’s injury it was clear that the Gunners were gonna bring in many new names in the given department. Thus, with the announcement of a new manager, Spaniard Unai Emery, who had just re-signed from his duty at PSG, Arsenal brought in reinforcements for their defence.
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Arsenal signed two experienced defenders, centre-back Sokratis Papasthopoulos from Borussia Dortmund, and Stephan Lichtsteiner from Juventus on a free transfer, and a goalkeeper, Bern Leno from Bayer Leverkusen.
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LOAN DEAL CLOSE
Arsenal centre-back Calum Chambers looks set to join Fulham on a year-long loan.
Read: https://t.co/KRnWBjsNjK pic.twitter.com/GWxRl8iaqh
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 6, 2018
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With the arrival of a centre-back, Sokratis, and already having Laurent Koscielny, Shkodran Mustafi, Callum Chambers, Rob Holding and Kostantinos Mavropanos, it was crystal clear that atleast one, if not two, centre-back will be transferred out, either in a loan deal or permanently to a club.
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It now seems that Calum Chambers will be loaned off to Fulham for a season. According to Sky Sports, Fulham is very close to completing the signing of the 23 year-old defender on a season-long loan deal. The club and the player are keen for him to gain regular Premier League playing time, which should elude him this season at the North London club.
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Arsenal have come to an agreement over the loan fee with Fulham for defender Calum Chambers, who is expected to join them on a season long loan. Chambers could undergo a medical today should he agree on personal terms with the newly promoted side. [Sky] #afc pic.twitter.com/NJHhzaPOo6
— afcstuff (@afcstuff) August 6, 2018
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This should come as a big surprise to the Arsenal fans since the 23-year-old defender just signed a new four-year contract last month. With much younger defenders in the side, Holding and Mavropanos, nobody could have guessed that the London based club would loan out Calum Chambers, one of their promising young defenders, who could have been a really great asset to have this season, playing back-up to Koscielny, Mustafi, and Sokratis. Chambers appeared 12 times in the Premier League for the Gunners last season, who signed for Arsenal from Southampton in 2014.
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Sky sources: Fulham agree deal with Arsenal to sign defender Calum Chambers on season-long loan. #SSN pic.twitter.com/4dRGnhLFgC
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) August 6, 2018
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Fulham seems to gain from this loan transfer of the defender, bolstering their squad for their return to the Premier League. Fulham has already secured the services of defender Alfie Mawson in a deal that could cost up to £20 million, from the relegated Welsh side Swansea. Mawson is currently working back to match fitness following an injury and is expected to be ready by September.
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The Cottagers have also signed Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic from Newcastle United, for a reported fee of £22 million, Spanish goalkeeper Fabri from Belsiktas, Ivory Coast midfielder Jean Michael Seri and French defender Maxime le Marchand from Nice, as well as German forward Andre Schurrle from Borussia Dortmund on loan.
Arsenal will complete the signing of Besiktas defender Domagoj Vida for £17.9m if Calum Chambers moves to Fulham on loan. [Fanatik] #afc pic.twitter.com/bu197l3I4v
— afcstuff (@afcstuff) August 6, 2018
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In my opinion, this will be one of the mistakes Arsenal will commit in the transfer window this season, loaning out one of their promising young defender, while they could loan out Rob Holding or Konstantinos Mavropanos, who are much younger and have less experience, as compared to Chambers.
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But who knows, this move could also help Chambers prove that he is a perfect defender for the Gunners, playing regularly at the highest level for a mid-table club, fellow London club Fulham. Arsenal should be patient with the situation of Chambers, as more loan deals for him could hamper his growth, destroy his confidence, and take away a promising defender from the North London club’s squad.
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The latest from Turkey is that Domagoj Vida could replace Calum Chambers at Arsenal should he move to Fulham. The fee being quoted is £18m. Vida, his agent Uğur Avadan & Beşiktaş official Umut Güner had a meeting over the weekend regarding the defender's future. pic.twitter.com/2ksLhX5M7d
— Turkish Football (@Turkish_Futbol1) August 6, 2018
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