Arsenal would be wise to accept £5m transfer offer

Never assume how a season may pan out for the individuals involved. Football is fast changing, with form dipping and narratives shifting, as even though it looked like Calum Chambers had wrestled some superiority at Arsenal, that proved not to be the case as the January window looms.

A great deal of credit has to be handed to the defender for what he achieved last season. Recovering from that long-term injury and usurping Hector Bellerin and Cedric Soares in the starting lineup is something few saw coming.

Equally, prior to the season beginning, there were few who saw him being last choice in the pecking order. Having been a serviceable right-back who could perform a specific tactical role at Arsenal to a decent enough degree, he’s now not even earning starts in Carabao Cup matches.

If an offer comes in for Chambers, Arsenal have to take it.

Arsenal would be foolish to ignore £5m transfer offer for Calum Chambers from Everton if Rafa Benitez’s side firm up their January interest

Currently boasting four players who can slot into right-back, while the preference may have been to move Cedric on due to Chambers fitting the Takehiro Tomiyasu mould slightly better, after how the season has panned out for the pair that is no longer the case.

With a contract running out at the end of the season, the option is there for Arsenal to extend Chambers’ deal by a further 12 months, a move they will likely take whatever happens to him.

Mark Irwin reports that Everton are keeping close tabs on the long-serving Gooner, albeit with a keener eye on Ainsley Maitland-Niles. An attempt to secure the Hale Ender in the summer failed and should they try again they will be met with an even firmer answer this time around.

Due to that, Chambers is being eyed up for the right-back slot as the club look for cover for club captain Seamus Coleman, who is now 33 years old with a deal expiring in 2023.

They would only want to pay a nominal fee, one said to be in the region of £5m. The report does mention Arsenal not wanting to lose him for free in the summer, which is, however, plain nonsense since they will activate the extension regardless as they aim to protect his value.

Were the offer to arrive in that ballpark then there is no reason for Arsenal not to take it. While Mikel Arteta may want to keep harmony within the group and try to do as little business as possible in January, there is no urgent requirement for a fourth right-back. Maitland-Niles can cover there if possible and Cedric, for all his flaws, is still ahead of Chambers in the pecking order.

May the club be short at centre-back? Tomiyasu can fill in just as easily, so not really.