Arsenal are unlikely to suffer any late hiccups over the transfer of Jakub Kiwior. Spezia are now in hurried negotiations with Venezia to sign a replacement in Przemyslaw Wisniewski.
That is according to TuttoMercatoWEB, which reports Spezia are now striving to agree on a fee with Venezia to sign Wisniewski. The Aquilotti are working on the centre-half’s arrival in parallel to finalising Kiwior’s transfer to Arsenal. But their discussions are not yet absolute.
Kiwior is, however, very close to becoming one of Mikel Arteta’s defensive options in north London. TuttoMercatoWEB also reports that the Poland international will head to Emirates Stadium for €30m (£26m). Arsenal agreed to pay €25m (£22m) plus €5m (£4m) in add-ons.
Spezia have long valued Kiwior at €30m during lengthy negotiations with Arsenal about the 22-year-old’s transfer. He will now fly to London to carry out his medical over the weekend and sign his contract. Whilst the Aquilotti will immediately reinvest their fee in Wisniewski.
Kiwior will mostly rival Gabriel Magalhaes for minutes in Arteta’s backline as he offers the Spaniard a left-footed centre-half. The Tychy-born talent can also play at left-back and as a holding midfield. But he has registered 18 of his 20 outings this term from central defence.
Jakub Kiwior is now on the verge of a transfer from Spezia to Arsenal
Spezia manager Luca Gotti has started Kiwior in all 17 of his Serie A appearances so far this term. He had also opened each of the Aquilotti’s league fixtures before watching their 1-0 win at Torino last Sunday on the bench. Now, Gotti hopes to replace him with Wisniewski.
The 24-year-old only joined Venezia from Polish outfit Gornik Zabrze in July. But Spezia are in talks over a deal for the defender having impressed in Serie B during 19 appearances. He has also started in 18 Italian second-tier fixtures this term to now merit top-flight interest.
Arsenal will hope Spezia can wrap up negotiations with Venezia to sign Wisniewski swiftly so Kiwior’s transfer goes smoothly. But the Gunners are unlikely to suffer any late hiccups with the Aquilotti happy with the structure of Arsenal’s bid for a defender they rate highly.
Spezia chief football officer Eduardo Macia said in November, via quotes by Football Italia: “Kiwior has had this incredible progress and is destined for an important step in his career. But it has to be at the right moment and there is no rush.
“It has to be a definitive step up and not a momentary one. I want players, agents and families to remember a career lasts to 32, 33, 35 years [old]. It doesn’t end tomorrow. You don’t go to Bayern Munich to then drop back down to Brighton.”
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