Arsenal blow Liverpool out of the water with move for Gabriel replacement

Tom Weber

Updated: 20 Mar 2025 01:56 CDT
3 min read

Andrea Berta, Mikel Arteta, Arsenal — © IMAGO

Arsenal are ready to join the race for Nico Schlotterbeck, according to German media.

With the summer window slowly but surely approaching, the Borussia Dortmund centre-back is increasingly grabbing the headlines in his native Germany.

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BVB are in the midst of a rotten campaign and at serious risk of missing out on Champions League football for next season. Plenty of changes are expected at Dortmund this summer and several key players could jump ship.

Schlotterbeck is one of the names persistently linked with a potential departure. Dortmund, for their part, would like to hand the defender a new long-term deal. The former Freiburg man is viewed as captain's material and could become the face of the club.

It has been claimed that Dortmund would be willing to double Schlotterbeck's salary, but the Bundesliga side's lack of sporting success could push him out the door.

Arsenal enter the race

Liverpool have been linked with Schlotterbeck in recent days as they are in the market for a centre-back who could act as a long-term successor to Van Dijk.

There has been talk of a valuation of around €50 million and BILD now claims that this is also attracting the attention of other high-profile outfits. Arsenal, Barcelona and Real Madrid are all credited with an interest in the Germany international.

The news of Arsenal's interest is intriguing in light of the revelation that Saudi giants Al-Nassr are ready to test the club's resolve this summer with an offer for star defender Gabriel Magalhaes.

The 27-year-old has been brilliant this season - both offensively and defensively - and Arsenal are said to be demanding a fee in the region of €100m to even entertain talks.

Whether this will be enough to deter a Public Investment Fund-owned side with basically unlimited cash reserves remains to be seen. Schlotterbeck, who is also a left-sided centre-back, appears to be a perfect replacement.