According to reports, Arsenal are interested in signing Middlesbrough defender Djed Spence in the summer transfer window. The Gunners are planning to find a cover for Takehiro Tomiyasu and have identified the English full-back as a potential target.
Arsenal’s winter transfer window was poor in terms of recruiting new players into the squad. Offloading players have lightened the club’s wage bill, especially with the departure of Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang, but strengthening the squad remains a priority. With several outgoing players in the defensive department in January, the right-back position has left a vacuum for manager Mikel Arteta.
Takehiro Tomiyasu is certainly the no.1 choice for the position. The Japanese international is a versatile defender who has given a whole new balance to the team’s defensive line. He is currently out after suffering a calf injury. Tomiyasu picked up the injury during a 4-1 win against Leeds in December. However, he continued to play through pain during last month’s Carabao Cup defeat to Liverpool,
Cedric Soares played in for Tomiyasu in the 1-0 win against Wolves at the Molineux Stadium on Friday. Cedric put up a fine display against Wolves but Mikel Arteta is looking to add more quality in the backline with his team rebuilding. The Arsenal boss said:
“The potential [to do that] is there,”
“It’s because of the qualities they have individually, how they can complement each other with those qualities and, obviously, because of the age group.
“If we manage them well and they are willing to sustain that, they have a really bright future.”
William Saliba might be the last piece of the puzzle for Arteta. The Frenchman is performing very well at Marseille this season. But right now, what Arteta wants is to find another right-back as a cover for Tomiyasu. According to Goal (via HITC), Middlesbrough full-back Djed Spence has appeared on the target list for the Spaniard.
The 21-year-old currently plays for Nottingham Forrest. He is on loan from Middlesbrough, graduating from their academy in 2020. He played against Arsenal in the FA Cup game, where Forrest defeated the Gunners 1-0.
He also played a key part in beating Leicester City in the fourth round, scoring the final goal for the Championship side. The right-back was a target for Antonio Conte in the January transfer window, but the Spurs saw both their bids turned down for the player last month.
ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED!?@DjedSpence is a special player.#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/4nUgW7zaSB
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) February 6, 2022
Djed Spence could be a good signing for Arsenal to fill the vacuum in that position. Moreover, Soares may exit the club in the summer and the English full-back can be a good alternative. The youngster has displayed his potential with the Championship side to be a future star.
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Former Middlesbrough manager Neil Warnock described him as a player with “enormous talent” and the ability to follow the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
“He does have enormous ability and when you’ve got ability like that it’s criminal if you don’t get to the very top.
“As I said to him in that first couple of weeks, he’ll only have himself to blame if he doesn’t get to the very top.”
Also, the signing of the youngster would unite Emile Smith Rowe and Spence some ten years later. This is because they played together at the same youth club – Junior Elite. Aaron Wan-Bissaka too graduated from the same youth academy.
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