Newcastle United wanted Calum Chambers in the summer and he could be forced further down the pecking order at Arsenal.
Calum Chambers fell behind Rob Holding in the pecking order when he arrived at Arsenal last summer and, with the Mirror reporting that the Gunners are tracking another highly-rated young centre-back, you wonder whether history could repeat itself.
The Mirror claims that Arsenal are battling Nice, Bordeaux and Red Bull Leipzig for the signature of 19-year-old Le Havre starlet Harold Moukoudi. Le Havre, who also brought through Dimitri Payet and Paul Pogba, are resigned to losing the defender and will accept the best possible fee in January.
And this would not bode well for Chambers’ hopes of forcing his way back into the Arsenal XI. The 22-year-old spent last season on loan at Middlesbrough and will now be out until after next month’s international break after picking up a groin injury in his only appearance of the season, the EFL Cup win over Doncaster Rovers.
However, if Newcastle United are still interested, they may now have a better chance than ever of landing their summer target. The Sun reported in the summer that the Magpies were considering a £15 million bid for the former Southampton man and, if Moukoudi arrives at the Emirates, he could find himself even further away from first-team selection.
Whether Newcastle need the young defender, however, is another matter with Jamaal Lascelles starring and Florian Lejeune set to return from injury sooner rather than later.
Yet young, promising and blessed with potential resale value, Chambers is the sort of signing Newcastle have made their trademark.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
