Report: Arsenal eyeing cut-price move for £13m man who rejected new contract

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Arsenal are set to battle Everton and Roma for the signing of Napoli’s £13 million contract-rebel Nikola Maksimovic, according to CalcioNapoli24.

While the temptation would be to assume that this Serbian international has been lined up as a back-up option in case the long-awaited signing of Gabriel Magalhaes falls through, the reality may be something a little different.

One of the main reasons why Gabriel is so highly-admired across Europe is that he is the most rare of beasts – a top-quality, left-footed central defender.

Maksimovic, meanwhile, prefers the ball on his right.

With the likes of Sokratis, Shkodran Mustafi, Rob Holding and co all possibly up for sale, Arsenal perhaps see Maksimovic as the ideal partner for Gabriel at the heart of Mikel Arteta’s defence, rather than an alternative transfer target.

Funds might be tight at the Emirates, but the former Torino and Red Star Belgrade man would not break the bank.

CalcioNapoli24 suggested last week that Napoli would listen to offers of just £13 million, with Everton keen to land a commanding centre-half who impressed under Carlo Ancelotti at the Stadio San Paolo.

Both he and Gabriel could set Arsenal back a combined £35 million – less than half the fee Manchester United paid for Harry Maguire.

Gazzetta dello Sport claimed this week that Maksimovic has rejected the chance to extend a contract which expires next summer, with Napoli failing to meet his demands of a £35,000-a-week deal.