The TRUTH about Arsenal’s interest in Van de Ven – Fabrizio Romano

Tom Hancock

• 29 Jun 2023 10:58 BST
• 3 min read

Fabrizio Romano has provided a big update on Arsenal’s rumoured pursuit of Wolfsburg defender Micky van de Ven.

The Gunners have been linked with the 22-year-old Dutchman as they search for centre-back reinforcements in readiness for their return to the Champions League next season.

Ajax’s Jurrien Timber has also been strongly touted as an option for Mikel Arteta and co – with current Gunners centre-half Jakub Kiwior seemingly revealing that the Netherlands international would be moving to the Emirates Stadium imminently.

MORE: Are Arsenal breaking FFP rules with Havertz, Rice and Timber?

However, in what might come as a blow to Arsenal fans, Romano has revealed that Van de Ven is not a target for the Gunners but instead their arch-rivals Tottenham.

In fact, Romano claims that Timber is the sole centre-half target for Arsenal – whose lack of depth in the position was brutally exposed after they lost William Saliba to injury towards the end of last season.

While not the only factor, the Gunners’ Premier League title charge fell apart in Saliba’s absence and they ultimately finished five points behind champions Manchester City.

MORE: Premier League 2023/24 summer transfers | All the Done Deals

A busy summer so far

Arsenal have just made their first signing of the current transfer window, completing a deal worth around £65m to bring in Kai Havertz from London rivals Chelsea.

Declan Rice is poised to follow from West Ham in a £105m move which would break the transfer record for a British player, after the Gunners agreed a deal for the England midfielder on Wednesday.

In terms of outwards transfer business, meanwhile, Pablo Mari and Ainsley Maitland-Niles are among those to depart the Emirates this summer: Mari will make his loan switch to Serie A outfit Monza permanent, while Maitland-Niles will become a free agent.