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Football London
Football London
Sport
Aaron Catterson-Reid

Arsenal interested in signing another defender after Jurrien Timber transfer

RB Leipzig star Benjamin Henrichs is the latest player to be linked with a summer transfer to Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta's side have already completed a deal to sign Kai Havertz from Chelsea for £60 million, with an additional £5m in add-ons. Talks for Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber are still ongoing as the Spaniard looks to close the gap on Premier League champions Manchester City by recruiting early before the start of the 2023/24 campaign.

If moves for both Rice and Timber are finalised that will likely take the north London outfit's spending north of £200m for the summer window and they may keep spending after that. According to German transfer guru Florian Plettenberg, the Gunners are interested in versatile defender Henrichs, with Arteta a big fan of the player.

Writing on Twitter, Plettenberg said: "Talks between @Arsenal and the players management took place. Gunners considering Benjamin #Henrichs as a backup target.

"Arteta, with a very good opinion about the German national Contract at Leipzig until 2025; important player for coach Rose. First call about the interest: Kicker."

READ MORE: Arsenal news and transfers LIVE: Declan Rice deal 'done', Romeo Lavia move, Granit Xhaka deal

Henrichs is an extremely versatile player, predominantly operating as a right-back but playing frequently as a left-back and even a central midfielder too. That kind of tactical flexibility is something that Arteta admires in his fullbacks, often tasking them with inverting when his side are in possession.

It remains to be seen just how interested the Gunners really are in the 26-year-old, who has previously admitted he was training as a holding midfielder during his formative years. When asked about his favourite position, he told the Bundesliga website: "I was trained as a midfielder […] and I really enjoy playing as a No.6.

"Obviously I can play out wide too, but in the middle I’m on the ball more and involved more. My teammates look to find me more frequently and it’s something that suits me.”

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