Arsenal are open to selling Jakub Kiwior if a good proposal were to arrive, and the defender is attracting some interest this Summer. A sale here would be contingent on the signing of Riccardo Calafiori, although this transfer is reportedly close to its conclusion anyway.
Arsenal Will Consider Selling Jakub Kiwior if They Can Sign His Replacement
A Loan is Possible
Fabrizio Romano reports that Kiwior “could leave Arsenal“, should the club complete the signing of Calafiori this Summer. The defender is attracting interest from Italian clubs, although a formal proposal is yet to be made. It is also believed that the player could leave on loan, but only if there is a mandatory buy clause included with the deal. The Gunners seem prepared to cash in, and they have already set their eyes on a potential upgrade.
Arsenal have been pushing for the signing of Calafiori from Bologna, who has also given the “green light“ to the move from his side. The player has already agreed personal terms on a five-year contract, and he is “keen on joining Arteta” for next season, however, club-to-club negotiations are still ongoing.
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Regardless, the North London outlet remain confident and have even set a target date for the deal to be completed very soon. The Italian defender could be seen as a direct replacement for Kiwior’s role in the squad, which would explain the rumours of an exit.
A Player with ‘Huge Potential’
In the January transfer window of 2023, Arsenal very quickly wrapped up the signing of Kiwior, in the hopes of filling out squad numbers amid their league title challenge. Arteta was pleased with the signing and described the player as having “huge potential“.
With a fairly slow start to his career in England, he only made eight appearances in the second half of the season. The 22-year-old then raised his performance levels the following term and featured in 30 games, including 20 in the Premier League and seven in the Champions League. His versatility was particularly useful, given he played as both a centre-back and a left-back.
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Despite the Polish international’s performances, Arsenal have been eyeing other left-footed defenders to add to the squad. Although offering fantastic quality on the ball, it could be argued that Kiwior has a weakness in certain defensive situations, such as out-wide and one-vs-one. This has also been more prevalent when he has played at left-back and could be the factor that has prompted Arteta to consider potential upgrades.
The club recently shortlisted Jorrel Hato as a future target in this regard, and have now turned towards Calafiori – another left-footed defender who can play as both a centre-back and a left-back. He is well-regarded for his proficiency in all defensive situations in addition to his composure and quality whilst on the ball, meaning he could be seen as the more immediate and complete version of the Gunners’ current profile.
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If Arsenal were to sell Kiwior and sign the replacement this Summer, this combination of transfers could greatly benefit the squad and also the player. The 22-year-old has gained high-level playing experience during his time with the London club and the opportunity to be a player of greater importance to another team might be ideal for his career.
