Arsenal could potentially be in line to field summer interest in Auston Trusty, with the American defender who is yet to feature for the first team attracting interest from the Championship.
Trusty, who signed for Mikel Arteta's side on January's transfer deadline day in 2022, has been loaned out for the majority of the last 12 months. The 24-year-old completed the 2022 MLS campaign with former club Colorado Rapids before being sent off to Birmingham City for the whole of this season upon his arrival in England.
By all accounts Trusty has been rather, well, trusty over the course of a season filled with highs and lows for the second city club, no better seen in the events of his last two appearances. The American unfortunately diverted into his own net in the 97th minute of the Blues' FA Cup fourth round replay last week to knock his side out, before heading into the correct goal with a 100th-minute winner in the match that followed.
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His current manager at Birmingham, John Eustace, has been impressed by his on-loan defender, and recent comments suggest he would be keen to turn the loan into a permanent move before the start of next campaign.
“I think he is a terrific player,” Eustace told BirminghamLive of the USMNT hopeful. “I think with Auston we have to remember he has come off the back of a full MLS season, so he’s touching nearly 50-60 games in a row now.
“It’s about getting that consistency. Would I have liked to have rested Auston throughout the season? One hundred per cent. But unfortunately we haven’t been able to do that.
“So his performances have also dipped throughout the season because of a lack of help, support I would like to have given him. But he is coming back now, he is coming back strong, his last couple of performances have been excellent.
“I would love him at the football club going forward. I think everyone connected to Birmingham City would love him to be part of the football club but we also respect he is an Arsenal player, a very good player but it’s something we can hopefully push at the end of the season.”
As a left-sided centre back, Trusty may find it difficult to compete the amount of game time he has seen in the second tier this year upon a return to Arsenal. Gabriel has been crucial to the Gunners' title charge, plus recent addition Jakub Kiwior has plenty of potential in the same role.
Therefore this could open the door for a move away from the Emirates Stadium. Whilst it would be a shame to see Trusty not receive an opportunity in the Premier League, it would appear to be beneficial to the player who gets guaranteed game time, and Arsenal, who could easily profit on the fee just shy of £1.5 million they spent on Trusty last winter.
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