Ajax defender Jurrien Timber is edging closer to completing a £43 million transfer to Arsenal this summer. The Gunners had an opening bid of £30m rejected by the Eredivisie giants last week.
A second offer has since been submitted by the north Londoners, football.london understands, with personal terms on a deal to 2028 already agreed with the 22-year-old. According to CBS reporter James Benge, a £43.5m deal that is expected to be swiftly concluded in the next few days.
The Dutch defender is under contract at Ajax until 2025 but could now be set to complete a move to north London this week - joining Kai Havertz at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal confirmed the £65m capture of Havertz on Wednesday evening with the German signing a long-term contract.
Declan Rice is expected to become an Arsenal player in the coming days after the Gunners agreed a £105m deal in principle to sign the West Ham captain. Mikel Arteta is hoping to freshen up his squad with players that have the right mentality as he looks to continue Arsenal's progress after missing out on the Premier League title last term.
Timber clearly has the right mentality to fit in with Arteta's squad highlighted by his reaction to Ajax missing out on the Eredivise title last term. “We failed to win the title this year - and when that happens as an Ajax player, you have to feel ashamed," Timber said at the end of last season.
"That is not a usual thing for Ajax and it is not usual for me. All through my career, right from the youth academy, I have been used to winning titles.
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"We have been brought up in an atmosphere of fighting for trophies and that is what I want. But everything that has happened in my career, including the year when I didn't win the league, has made me stronger and has made me more convinced that I am a leader - definitely.”
It's obvious that Timber has a winning mentality and that disappointment drives him on to succeed in the future. His signing would add to the mental strength in Arteta's squad and give them a better chance of winning trophies moving forward.
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