Arsenal: Rob Holding the key to James Maddison move?

Much of the Gunners’ transfer activity has centered around Leicester midfielder James Maddison. With the Foxes unwilling to budge on its evaluation of the 24-year-old, which is currently in excess of £60m, Arsenal could find parting with that sum of a rather large spanner in the works.

Selling some fringe players would go a long way towards Arsenal securing the services of Maddison. With Joe Willock looking certain to complete his move to Newcastle in a deal that could rise to £25m, could another in Rob Holding be on his way to Tyneside after being close last season?

Keep in mind that it is highly likely Holding stays this summer, but it is an interesting thought.

Something that could add a little fuel to the fire is that Holding was nearly signed, sealed and delivered to the Magpies last season. He was on the verge of linking up with the Premier League outfit and were it not for an intervention from Mikel Arteta following the Community Shield victory over Liverpool, he could have been wearing black and white.

Could Rob Holding be the key to Arsenal securing James Maddison from Leicester this summer if the defender is sold to boost transfer funds?

The English defender spoke with The Telegraph about his move that nearly happened.

"“It was all agreed, and the club thought it would be the best move for me, but in the week before the Community Shield against Liverpool, [Arteta] pulled me aside and said he wanted to check that I was focused for the weekend because I was needed,” Holding said.“I played the game, we did well, and we won, and then on the Monday, he called me into his office. He said it made no sense to let me go if my end goal was to play here. He was saying I was going to play, that it was my shirt to lose. That was the confidence he put in me.”"

So, with that being said last season, could the move materialize this summer? The likely answer is no as football.london quash such speculation amid rumblings of a £20m move to Newcastle. However, while frivolous rumors, when you look at Holding’s situation a little deeper, the move makes some sort of sense.

The fact that he was so close to joining last season is number one. The second is despite being a regular starter for Arteta last season, he is likely to find first-team appearances limited this campaign due to new recruit Ben White being certain to partner Brazilian Gabriel in the heart of the Gunners defense.

So Holding’s appearances could be rather limited given no European football this season and throw in Pablo Mari as well alongside White and Gabriel, suddenly Holding’s future potentially looks a little shaky. Most fans would agree that if the sale of Holding meant Arsenal could sign James Maddison, they would jump at the chance.

Of course, the rather glaring hole it would leave at right centre-back is tough to avoid. Calum Chambers could be moved in as backup for the season, and if Hector Bellerin leaves it opens the door for either a new right-back or centre-back to come in.

Accumulating over £40m from the Willock and Holding sales could prove to be the masterstroke in getting the Maddison deal, and potentially others, over the line. The fact is Holding is likely to stay, but it does throw up an interesting way that the club could sign its top targets. Leicester are also short at centre-back, it’s worth adding.

Much like Willock, Holding wouldn’t have been the player Gunners fans expected to see leaving the Emirates, but it could prove a pivotal piece of business should an offer come in so long as cover is signed, that is.