Arsenal are now showing strong interest in Mohamed Simakan – a player Tottenham held talks about signing in January.
The Guardian’s Ed Aarons believe the Gunners are looking to bring the Frenchman to the Emirates Stadium as Mikel Arteta attempts to bolster his defence.
However, a deal for Mohamed Simakan certainly won’t be easy to complete.
What’s the story?
Well, the 23-year-old is contracted to RB Leipzig until June 2027. Therefore, we would expect it will take a huge offer for the German side to sell their No.2 this summer.
Arsenal’s interest in Simakan comes after The Times claimed that Tottenham held internal talks about making a move for his signature back in January, although nothing ever came of those discussions.
The France Under-21 international has enjoyed an outstanding season at RB Leipzig, and it is no surprise to see Arsenal take notice.
Simakan has scored three goals and provided eight assists in 34 appearances this season mostly from right-back, although he has also made 14 appearances playing as a centre-back.
The £15m man’s versatility is surely a major factor behind Arteta’s interest.
The Spaniard has a number of defenders who can play in various positions, such as Ben White, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu, so Simakan would fit in well.
Tottenham will kick themselves if Arsenal sign Simakan
If Arsenal now go on to sign Simakan after Tottenham decided not to do anything after their internal discussions, those on the recruitment team at Spurs will kick themselves.
After all, Tottenham are more in need of defensive reinforcements, so it would be a real blow if they saw their north London rivals add another gem to their already impressive backline.
The likes of Eric Dier and Davinson Sanchez have struggled this season, with Spurs in need of at least two new centre-backs if they want to progress next term.
Be sure to keep an eye on this situation, as Arsenal have Simakan in their sights.
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