Arsenal are preparing a new bid for Ajax star Jurrien Timber this summer ahead of a potential move to the Emirates Stadium this summer. That's according to the Telegraph, who report that the Gunners are edging closer to an agreement with the Eredivisie outfit for the 22-year-old.
The deal is believed to cost roughly £40million, following on from the first offer made by the north London outfit, which was rejected at £30million. Ajax were believed to desire £50million for the defender, but with just two-years left on his contract, a move away for Timber seems likely at a slightly lower price.
A lack of Champions League football may not help their case in trying to keep hold of the versatile defender, while reports have also claimed that personal terms have already been agreed for a switch to Arsenal. Mikel Arteta is believed to have been an important in those discussions to get the project over to the youngster.
Timber would help alleviate any concerns regarding depth in the backline, following a campaign that saw the Gunners fall painfully short of the Premier League title. Injuries to William Saliba and Takehiro Tomiyasu may have played a huge part in that, with their absence felt in the latter half of the season.
Add to that the fresh challenge of Champions League football for the coming year and the desire to add quality in depth is more of a requirement. Timber can play at both centre-back and at right-back, offering cover to both positions, but he also has the traits required to fit an Arteta system.
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His ability to feel comfortable on the ball allows for patient build-up from the back, while he could also facilitate an inverted role at full-back, similar to that of Oleksandr Zinchenko. That change largely helped the side pen teams in and circulate possession, building pressure before eventually scoring.
It remains to be seen if a move for Timber can be secured, but it appears to be edging closer to a case of when the move will go through instead.
