If things had worked out differently, during Jose Mourinho’s time in charge of Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester City defender Timothy Castagne might currently be plying his trade in the English capital.
The Belgium international’s father admitted to Het Nieuwsblad back in 2020, shortly after Leicester had completed a £21 million deal with Atalanta, that an inability to get Serge Aurier off the books put pay to Mourinho’s hopes of luring Timothy Castagne to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Three years later, might Castagne be bringing his versatility, energy and tenacity to Arsenal instead? The Mirror report that James Maddison is not the only Leicester City player who could be offered a route of the relegation-threatened Foxes this summer.
Arsenal are long-time admirers of Leicester City’s Timothy Castagne
Arsenal hope to add some high-quality depth to a rather thin squad in time for next season. Castagne has been scouted, and would offer reliable cover in either full-back position.
Arsenal’s interest in the 27-year-old wideman goes back some time. Tottenham were not the only London giant keen on Castagne before he joined a Leicester City side who, at the time, were having dreams of the Champions League rather than nightmares of the Championship.
“There were several teams seriously interested in the player,” Tuttomercatoweb quotes George Gardi; an agent involved in Castagne’s move from Atalanta to Leicestershire.
“Such as Arsenal and PSG.”
Relegation looms for Leicester
In the end, it was Leicester’s spending power that made the difference. The Foxes had £50 million burning a hole in their pocket following Ben Chilwell’s move to Chelsea days earlier.
“The market prevailed,” Gardi adds. “Leicester, having made an important sale, were the first suitors to satisfy the requests of both Atalanta and the player.”
Now 27, Castagne has been one of the very few Leicester players who can claim to have done his bit this term. Alongside Maddison and probably Wout Faes. A load-bearing pillar attempting to keep the roof from falling in.
Even if Dean Smith does keep Leicester heads above water, the chance to play Champions League football at Arsenal in his peak years is one that is likely to appeal to Castagne.
And that’s without mentioning the fact that, by his own admission (DH), Castagne was an Arsenal fan growing up.
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