Quantcast

Arsenal agree deal to sign defender as Wenger closes in on second new arrival

By on June 8, 2016

According to a report in the Express, Arsenal have finally agreed a deal with Bolton Wanderers to sign highly-rated centre-back Rob Holding this summer.

Holding has been strongly linked with a move to the Emirates in recent weeks with Arsene Wenger believed to have sent his scouts to watch the young defender in action on several occasions last season.

The Daily Mail reported two weeks ago that we’d tabled an improved £1.2m offer having seen our opening £750,000 bid rejected by the Trotters but it looks as though we’ve now had better luck with our third offer.

That’s because the Express are reporting that Arsenal have finally agreed a deal that will see us pay a total of £1.5m to Bolton with the fee including various performance-based add ons.

The newspaper says that the likes of Spurs, Everton and Celtic were also keen on the 20-year-old but Holding wanted to join Arsenal and it looks as though he’s about to get his wish.

Nothing official has come out from either club as yet so we’ll have to take these reports with a pinch of salt but should Holding secure his move to Arsenal then I think we’ll see Calum Chambers leave on loan.

The 21-year-old struggled for game time during the second half of last season and has been linked with a move to Watford in recent days. Like Calum, Holding is also a centre-back who can fill-in at right back so I think he’s going to be a direct replacement for the former Southampton man.

Holding is considered as one of the best young defenders outside of the top flight and won the Bolton Player of the Season despite only breaking in to the first team at the start of last season.

His impressive form saw him earn a call up to the England under-21’s and along with Chambers he was part of the side that won the Toulon Tournament last month.

I personally don’t see him coming in as a first team regular just yet so I’d actually be a little disappointed if Holding was the only centre-back we signed this summer.

Club agree to sell after international expresses desire to join Arsenal

I think we need a dominant top class defender to play alongside Koscielny as neither Mertesacker or Gabriel have shown they are the answer to our woes at the back. If Arsene thinks Holding is ready to start week-in week-out in the Premier League at 20 years old, it would be a brave move.

So while he’s obviously a great young talent, I hope we see the boss goes for a more established centre-back as well if we do end up signing Holding this summer.

14 Comments

  1. Absalom Augustine

    June 8, 2016 at 10:48 pm

    All I need is Wenger to bring in hardy.

  2. SamuelQ

    June 8, 2016 at 11:01 pm

    Winger should do all in his might to bring vary to the emirates,despite the opposition from other clubs.also Wenger should pursue Maharez to make a formidable forward

  3. SamuelQ

    June 8, 2016 at 11:06 pm

    V Ardy and Maharez is our choice this season if we intend to get a trophy . Wenger come on wake up from slumber and do the club and fans this favor

  4. Samuel Turay Makeni Sierra Leone

    June 8, 2016 at 11:13 pm

    Wenger you have done a good job andArsenal is second in the PL,kindly do me a favor,please bring VARDY and MAHAREZ to the Emirates this season

  5. Samuel Turay Makeni Sierra Leone

    June 8, 2016 at 11:20 pm

    UCL is near at hand Arsenal need a strong and tactical team. Therefore Wenger must wave his magic wand to get a good team that will stand the test of. Time. Watch the EURO 2016 and do your. Home work GOD B LESS YOU.

  6. Peter Benovsky

    June 9, 2016 at 12:35 am

    Vardy and Mahrez will be in Arsenal. Vardi already signed but that will be announced later in July because arsenal now negotiating with Mahrez and the conditions already agreed with his agents. Only the naive and those who do not like Arsenal say that Vardy will stay in Leicester and will sign a new contract for more money. This is nonsense. How will the others Leicester players feel as they will receive twice less of Vardy. And they consider him a blackmailer. Vardy no way back to Leicester. Now will come Mahrez. We need more Koulibaly and Murillo. So===

  7. Ignatius Ndebele

    June 9, 2016 at 1:43 am

    If Rob Holding is good enough, then we may not need to bring in any other top class defender. Coming from lower league does not automatically render you second rate. Look at us right now, we are chasing players who were brought from lower leagues to the premier league by other clubs.

    N’golo Kante is a good example.

    • Peter

      June 9, 2016 at 8:09 am

      Kos was lower league, non?

  8. lhord

    June 9, 2016 at 6:34 am

    Do you think vardy is good for us? We don’t play his game i.e counter style, see all gis goals.. . .it’s a good one tho but it’ll take time to adapt

  9. Jully seven

    June 9, 2016 at 9:59 am

    Hi i think we shuld forget vady and buy número from sevil he is more fisical.thank you

  10. Pingback: Arsenal blow as Man Utd look to hijack deal for Henrikh Mkhitaryan | Arsenal Station | Arsenal FC News

  11. teekee dillion

    June 9, 2016 at 12:04 pm

    pls tel wenger to buy prefesional players not young boy of 2o yrs.

  12. Pingback: England camp 'leak' claims Vardy is 80% likely to turn down Arsenal | Arsenal Station | Arsenal FC News

  13. seun

    June 9, 2016 at 6:51 pm

    Pls someone shd tell wenger to strengten his defence with players like fonte, williams, and any other strong defenders, Dats d secrete of winning the premiership.

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *