Arsenal prepare deadline day transfer bid for Tottenham target

As supporters start coming to terms with the mess of a striker situation that Arsenal have placed themselves into, attentions begin to look elsewhere in the window.

Monday’s 11PM deadline fast approaches and with the news that Eddie Nketiah is staying at the club this month it adds credence to the notion that Arsenal will not be signing a striker. There is still space for a late loan move, but at present it’s looking bleak.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will be joining Barcelona barring any late hiccups, and in midfield there are no murmurs, as of yet, to suggest an incoming apart from Matt Turner.

How about in defence?

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Arsenal prepare deadline day transfer bid for Tottenham target Djed Spence with Middlesbrough braced for late £12-£15m offer

Earlier in January it emerged that Arsenal were keeping tabs on Middlesbrough’s Djed Spence, the defender who had put in a man of the match performance against the Gunners when his loan side, Nottingham Forest, knocked the Gunners out of the FA Cup in the third round.

That then progressed further with Italian duo Roma and Inter also said to be keeping tabs, alongside Tottenham, who remain well in the hunt.

As per the Northern Echo, it’s the two north London sides that are in line to test Middlesbrough’s resolve with offers being readied on deadline day.

Boro are keen to keep hold of the right-back, someone they consider a big talent despite not recalling him from his loan at the City Ground in January, although any money they can accrue for him will strengthen their position heading into the summer.

Spence could be sold for a fee of around £12-15m, as well as sizeable add-ons, and Chris Wilder’s side are prepared for bids to come in.

Anyone who does sign Spence this month will be ineligible to field him in their team, however. The London-born 21-year-old has already played for Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest this season therefore he can’t play for a third different side. Should Arsenal secure his signature, he will spend the remainder of the season on loan at Forest.

Arsenal will have a good relationship with Wilder’s side having let Folarin Balogun depart there earlier in the month, which could put them in good stead should it come down to a straight shootout between them and Spurs.

With the deadline approaching it will be an interesting story to follow, with that area of the pitch in need of reinforcing at some stage having let Calum Chambers join Aston Villa and Cedric Soares due to turn 31 years old in the summer.