According to David Ornstein, Arsenal have made an opening bid for Ajax defender, Jurrien Timber.
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal working on deal to sign Ajax defender Jurrien Timber. #AFC have made an opening offer worth ~£30m. #Ajax want ~£50m but optimism a compromise will be reached. Personal terms with Netherlands int’l thought to be in place @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/mdMeSXp3ff
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) June 19, 2023
The 22 year old Netherlands international has made 121 appearances for the Amsterdam club, primarily as a central defender, but he can also play as a right back.
The Gunners are keen to strengthen their defence ahead of a busy campaign with Premier League, Champions League and domestic cups to compete in, and Timber would be an interesting addition to the defensive group.
With William Saliba set to sign a new deal on his return from holiday, Mikel Arteta seems determined to bolster the right-sided ranks, having lost the Frenchman and Takehiro Tomiyasu to injury at the same time last season.
Without sufficient quality and depth, Arsenal struggled to cope and it looks as if this is a potential signing to ensure we’re better able to cope with any possible absences next time around.
Personal terms are reportedly in place, so now it’s just about finding an agreement with Ajax over the fee.
Partey off then?
If we sign a center back?
Yes. Off from being experimented at right back
It’s going down. I am yelling Timber!
He’s gonna move, I’m gonna dance!
I wonder why this song is so popular lol. it’s not that great but I guess this “timber” part is so catchy that it gets stuck in your mind foreva
He will play every Forest game.
I really like the tone of this player.
Can’t wait for the inevitable song
‘I’m a lumberjack and I’m OK . . . ‘
Not sure if he wears women’s clothing
..as long as he’s OK!
Presses wild flowers, eats buttered scones for tea? And goes to the lavatory…?
Wow. We are really going for it. Hope he turns out to be good 😊
If reports are to be believed, we are being very un-Arsenal in this transfer window (working early, big name targets, splashing the cash) – I like it.
I see a lot of Smoke. Won’t be surprised if they’re all for Chelsea to use up their money and let us have Kai for cheap.
This is good.
Good player.
Highly rated.
Let’s see how the negotiations with Ajax go.
Watch out for United and Ten Hag trying to muscle in…
Exactly my thoughts….
Of course. Mikel’s interest is what any club needs to identify an excellent player. It works for some, others get a mud-reek
Difference is this year we have a bit more pull
Why would Ten Hag need a new defender when he has Harry Maguire?
Yeah, I was being sarcastic.
Downvoted for stating the bleeding obvious I assume.
What surprises me is I haven’t seen any comment about where he fits in the “starting 11” and “but we have so and so why are we spending this much on this lad?”
Makes sense as do all the other guys we have reportedly bid for. With the big competitions we are involved in it wouldn’t hurt to be able to rotate White, Timber and Tommy (who can deputies on the left as we saw last season) and not have a drop off in quality.
I don’t think Tommy is being relied upon for next season, at least not for the first half and maybe he isnt the quality Arteta wants there long term either. This guy would be the much needed Holding replacement while also backing up White at RB, I’d say that’s the sorely needed squad depth we’ve wanted this whole time.
There’s a time city had Sterling/Sane on the left, Mahrez/Bernardo on the right with a young Foden and Jesus playing on the wing some games nobody cared who they started, they all rotated and played. Just this season they had Ake, Akanji, Laporte, Stones and Dias nobody cared who would be relied upon apart from the coach. You look at Dias and stones and they were played in every game at the end but mid season Dias was basically on the bench most games. Walker even played CB with Ake and Akanji even when Dias was fit at the time.… Read more »
You are right, but it’s not clear anyone but City have the resources to do that with that level of player. But, even if the level of the “substitutes” is somewhat lower, that’s certainly the model that’s needed for title challenges sustained over several seasons.
Interesting that we haven’t heard any rumours about Holding so far. If we sign Timber it surely is the end of the road for Rob at Arsenal. Hopefully someone comes around soon.
He’s a solid defender in a low-block, he’d probably be worth more if he hadn’t spent his entire career being exposed in a high line at Arsenal.
Yup..true….he is a solid box defender…and I don’t think his passing and distribution is as bad as some were saying …I tot he is actually pretty decent …
Like you said his main problem is playing the high line.
/swipes right
Imagine if things didn’t work out? He’d be called “deadwood” and fans would be calling for him to be given the “chop”… Timber!!!
Treemendous. He Wood be useful when we go to Forest.
Just nice that we’re branching out to the Dutch leagues
I hope this happens quickly and that we don’t spend too much time barking up the wrong tree.
I’m sure with his ‘Ajax academy’ roots we’re getting a solid technical player
I think playing on a wet pitch on England could be really good for his growth.
For sure, I first twigged we were going after him when I saw him last season.
Holding will leaf on a free at the end of his contract.
Hopefully we can climb above city with him.
It’s great that he’s used to playing a high line. Seems to be pretty fast and nimble, not a typical lumbering center back.
Haha, there’s someone downvoting all these jokes. Someone’s like, “I hate tree puns!” Guess he’s just being a stick in the mud.
Not to throw shade on Ornstein, but ’tis but a rumour so far. I’ll be-leaf it when we see the customary contract signing photo.
I hear he shoots well; the woodwork’s not going to deny the ball nesting in the corner.
I don’t know exactly how the process of buying a player goes, but I don’t like this bidding when you almost know the club won’t sell for that money, and then everybody knows you are bidding for that player.
First, negotiate a price for the player with the club, or have some insight for the price they will accept, and then you bid when you know they will accept that bid. That way the process will go more silently.
Easier said than done. As a selling club, you want more interest in your player to drive the price up. Agents also play a role. Knowing that club’s like Utd, Chelsea are willing to pay bigger salaries, higher agents fees
Shouldn’t we start going in with 2 bids for players now? Edu please save us the stress. Always go with the original bid and another one with the extra £1 on it.
Only if it was that simple in real life. It’s not FIFA my friend, the paperwork, discussion etc take a little time.
Sarcasm, my friend. I thought the popular £1 extra should give it away
Sarcasm on the internet? How dare you!
I think it would be brilliant if, every time he sends an opponent crashing to the turf, the crowd all yell “Timber!”.
Does that mean the end of the road for Holding?
Is he any good? Saliba’s deputy didn’t exactly pull up trees last season.
He seems a bit short for a centre back. Maybe this is more to do with cover at right back.
So did Martinez, didn’t stop him. Did it?
I’m glad we didn’t get him and Arsenal are much better off with a physical backline.
I guess Timber grows slowly.
Seems like a good reason to stop Tierney from leaving. He’s up for a big season.
So, not exactly on point, but I watched a young ex-Arsenal centre-half prospect, Dimo Mavropanos, who has apparently been doing quite well in Germany, play for Greece yesterday. It did not go well. (a) He got away with a blatant foul on Mbappe that should have been a penalty (it was that famous Spanish referee from Argentina v Holland); (b) kicked and bloodied Griezmann in the head in one of the highest “high boots” I have ever seen; a penalty was awarded this time (which was the only goal of the match), but–absurdly–only a yellow card; (c) got a straight… Read more »