Arsenal are likely to be busy in the summer transfer window as Mikel Arteta looks to strengthen his ranks.
The Gunners are still in the Champions League picture, but their Premier League title challenge is now over for another season.
Arteta will want his Arsenal side to go all the way in the Premier League next season and also compete on multiple fronts.
Arsenal have been linked with players in pretty much every position, and now a defender in their sights has been praised by Gunners cult hero Theo Walcott.
Theo Walcott likes Arsenal target Jarrad Branthwaite
Walcott took part in the Premier League YouTube show Rising Stars, which discussed the top flight’s best young defenders this week.
One of the players discussed was Everton powerhouse Jarrad Branthwaite, a player on Arsenal’s radar.
TBR Football were recently told that Arsenal have decided to make a move for Branthwaite at the end of the season, with Chelsea also keen.
Walcott explained how Branthwaite is a rarity in that he’s a really good left-footed centre-back, backing him to potentially become an England regular.
“What’s good about him that puts him apart from other players is, it’s hard to find a good left-footed centre-half these days as well,” Walcott said of Branthwaite.
“And I’m not just saying that’s the reason why he plays, it’s not that.
“He’s very composed… he’s learned from a lot of good guys there, and now David Moyes is just going to enhance that because he’s always been known for being solid at the back.
“But he’s allowed to express himself in elements and, yeah, I totally agree, he likes that last-ditch challenge… he wouldn’t have caught me though, he’d have probably caught my ankles maybe!
“But no, look, he’s a player that – the left side of England as well, at some point, is definitely up for grabs, and he probably fits that mould for me.”
Which Arsenal player Jarrad Branthwaite could replace
Arsenal are currently well-stocked at centre-back, but Branthwaite could potentially come in as an upgrade on one of their current players.
Jakub Kiwior shone against Real Madrid, stepping up in the absence of Gabriel Magalhaes, but there are doubts surrounding the Poland international’s future in N5.
Napoli want to sign Kiwior, who has been deemed the first potential sale under new Arsenal Director of Football Andrea Berta.
Everton are reported to have accepted that Branthwaite will be on the move this month and have placed a £50million price tag on him.
That’s not particularly expensive for a young, Premier League-proven defender who has what it takes to become an England regular in years to come.
However, Arsenal will likely have strong competition for Branthwaite, so they’ll need to pull out all the stops to try and get a deal over the line with player and club.
