Arsenal accelerate approach for cut-price World Cup star

Tom Hancock

• Updated: 11 Jun 2023 21:42 BST
• 3 min read

Arsenal have opened talks about a potential move for Leicester right-back Timothy Castagne.

The Belgian international, 27, is one of numerous big names expected to bid farewell to the Foxes this summer, following their calamitous relegation from the Premier League.

And he could provide the Gunners with an alternative to another of their rumoured right-back targets: Real Valladolid starlet Ivan Fresneda.

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Journalist Sacha Tavolieri is reporting that Arsenal are looking to strike a deal for Castagne – who joined Leicester from Atalanta in 2020 and has gone on to make over 100 appearances for the club.

Tavolieri states that the Gunners consider Castagne their number two right-back target behind Fresneda – who has also been linked with a number of other top European clubs.

Competition for Castagne’s signature may be less fierce – and Arsenal might be able to sign him for a significantly lower fee than if Leicester had stayed up (for reference, our in-house Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) model currently rates the former Genk man at roughly £26m).

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A fresh start after a season to forget?

Castagne featured in all but one of Leicester’s league games in 2022/23 but found himself part of a defensive unit which shipped 68 goals overall – the joint fourth-worst record in the English top flight.

On a personal level, it was rather a campaign to forget for Castagne – who was also a member of the Belgium squad who crashed out of the 2022 World Cup at the group stage.

But a big move to Arsenal – and the opportunity to play Champions League football for the first time since 2019/20 – could provide just the lift that his career needs after a rotten 10 months.