Arsenal defender pushes to join AC Milan
AC Milan will sign a new centre back during the January transfer window and the Arsenal defender is their top choice.
An unprecedented emergency has plagued AC Milan’s defence. While the Rossoneri have traditionally suffered a high number of injuries in recent years, the situation had never reached such a dramatic point. Five AC Milan centre backs are currently unavailable due to various problems. Kalulu, Thiaw, Kjaer, Pellegrino and Caldara are out leaving Fikayo Tomori as the only available centre back.
At the moment Stefano Pioli has moved Theo Hernandez in the centre back role while also promoting Jan-Carlo Simic to the first squad. This is only a temporary solution and AC Milan will dive in the market to bring in two new centre backs. One will be Matteo Gabbia whose loan at Villarreal will be cut short while Jakub Kiwior is the priority for the second slot.
The 23-year-old Poland international was on AC Milan’s radar before his €25 million transfer from Spezia to Arsenal during January. Kiwior is not playing at lot at Arsenal. In fact, the Polish defender has made 11 appearances for a total of 478 minutes on the pitch. The player wants more space and is pushing to join the Rossoneri.
The Rossoneri management had a recent meeting with the player’s agents in Italy. Jakub Kiwior wants to join AC Milan but the Rossoneri currently can afford only a loan move with the option to make the transfer permanent at the end of the season. Arsenal, faced with Kiwior’s strong desire to join AC Milan in January, are willing to let the player leave but only in a deal that would allow them to recoup their investment.
Arsenal director Edu considers Kiwior to be an important player. While he’s not a regular starter he is a first choice among substitutes and the Gunners spend a significant fee for this services. Under such conditions Arsenal are open to let him leave on loan but only with the obligation to make the transfer permanent for a fee close to €25 million.
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