Jurrien Timber has emerged as Arsenal's latest transfer target.
After losing out to Manchester City in the Premier League title race last month, the target for Gunners manager Mikel Arteta and technical director Edu Gaspar this summer is to ensure the senior squad is better equipped to challenge again next season as well as compete in the Champions League.
Despite no new arrival just yet, they aren't wasting any time. Amid talk of a second offer for Chelsea forward Kai Havertz, football.london understands another bid is expected to be placed for West Ham United captain Declan Rice who is regarded as the Arsenal boss' priority signing.
But after conceding 42 goals in the Premier League in the season just gone, it's clear that defensive reinforcements are just a important as the midfield and forward department at the Emirates Stadium, so news of a £30 million bid for Timber, as per The Athletic, is certainly an encouraging development.
Whilst football.london understands that Arsenal will have to considerably increase their opening offer to complete a deal for the Ajax defender and add him to the ranks alongside, as things currently stand, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Benjamin White, Ron Holding, Jakub Kiwior, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Kieran Tierney.
This scenario would create a welcome team selection headache for Arteta next season and below football.london takes a look at how the Spaniard can line up his defence if Timber does indeed complete a transfer between now and deadline day on September 1, 2023.
READ MORE: Arsenal told to increase Jurrien Timber bid as Edu Gaspar targets Man United revenge transfer
Saliba cover
Make no mistake about it, William Saliba is Arsenal's first-choice right-sided central defender when fit and available for selection. This situation is unlikely to change for next season especially when taking into consideration that a verbal agreement over a new contract has been reached.
However, after missing the final two months of the 2022/23 campaign with a back injury, there will be concerns over his fitness and therefore has managed carefully. As a result, Timber can step in when the Frenchman is rested to partner Gabriel at the heart of the Gunners' defence.
The Dutchman made 47 appearances across all competitions for Ajax in the season just gone and according to transfermarkt, he was deployed at centre-back in every single one of them which confirms it's a position that he's most comfortable in so the transition should be a smooth one.
Potential line-up: White, Timber, Gabriel, Zinchenko
Right-back
Alternatively, Timber can operate at right-back. Interestingly, the only time he played there in recent months was for the Netherlands and he had a performance to forget up against Kylian Mbappe in a 4-0 defeat at the hands of France in a European Championships qualifier back in March.
Although, it's safe to say that he would be asked to do a completely different role at Arsenal as the right-back in Arteta's system - whether it's White, Tomiyasu or even Thomas Partey - tucks inside when in possession thus effectively operating as a third central defender.
There's also the option of starting alongside Saliba and Gabriel in a traditional back three formation that includes wing-backs, but it's a system that the Gunners have rarely used since the early days of Arteta's reign with the Spaniard often sticking with his dream 4-3-3 set-up.
Potential line-up: Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko
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