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Arsenal 'submit new Jurrien Timber bid' as Edu and Mikel Arteta devise transfer plan
Arsenal are pressing ahead with their transfer business and have stepped up interest in Jurrien Timber.
Dutch football expert explains what Timber could offer Arsenal
Arsenal have reportedly submitted a second bid for Ajax defender Jurrien Timber and hope to conclude a deal swiftly to bring the Netherlands star to the Emirates, as part of a busy opening few weeks of the transfer window for the Gunners. Mikel Arteta is hoping to pair Timber with Declan Rice and Kai Havertz as part of a statement summer, having launched a new bid for the 22-year-old Netherlands star.
The Daily Mail have claimed that Arsenal have submitted a new offer of £41.5million for Timber after their previous £30m bid was dismissed by Ajax, who are hoping to hold out for £50m for their star man.
The Gunners are hoping to conclude swift negotiations and are optimistic that a deal can be struck with the Eredivisie side, either by having their second offer accepted or reaching a compromise on a third set of negotiations.
It is clear that Arteta is looking to strengthen his defensive line after losing William Saliba through injury in the second half of the season and his side's form collapsing in their Premier League title charge.
Rob Holding and Jakub Kiwior were handed key roles at a pivotal point of the season and they were unable to match Saliba's influence, while Takehiro Tomiyasu was also unable to provide Ben White with a backup option as he was also ruled out through injury.
The Telegraph have claimed that Arteta sees Timber as someone who can be utilised as an inverted right-back, providing support to White and operate in a similar way that Oleksandr Zinchenko did on the opposite flank - giving the Spanish boss more options if Zinchenko is unavailable.
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Personal terms for Timber are not thought to be a problem as he is extremely keen on a move to the Emirates despite interest from Bayern Munich.
He is prepared to sign a contract at Arsenal where he would earn £130,000-a-week and may have further indicated his willingness to make a move after using a song by artist Gunna on social media - sending supporters into a frenzy.
Arsenal are also close to completing a deal to sign Havertz from Chelsea, while in pursuit of Rice though they face fierce competition from Manchester City - Arteta would also like to add another midfielder in addition to Rice, especially if both Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka depart this summer.