Arsenal are reportedly interested in raiding relegated Premier League club Fulham for the signing of defender Tosin Adarabioyo in the summer transfer window.
According to a report from The Athletic, Premier League’s faltering giants, Arsenal are considering a summer swoop for Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo as manager Mikel Arteta eyes reinforcements to the backline.
Adarabioyo came through the youth ranks at Manchester City and made his first-team debut back in 2016 itself. However, given the abundance of riches at Pep Guardiola’s disposal, the young defender never really got an extended run in the starting lineup. The 23-year-old spent the last couple of seasons out on loan at West Bromwich Albion and Blackburn Rovers where he did well before signing for Fulham last year on a permanent transfer.
Adarabioyo signed for the Cottagers on the summer transfer deadline day in a deal worth £1.5 million which could rise to £2 million with bonuses. Having joined Scott Parker’s side, the Englishman quickly became a regular fixture in defence, forming an impressive defensive pairing alongside Joachim Andersen, who has also been linked with Arsenal, Chelsea as well as Manchester United.
Adarabioyo featured 31 times for Fulham in the Premier League, missing just one game when he was fit and available for selection. However, with the Londoners getting relegated back to the Championship, the 23-year-old is now said to be open to an exit in the summer transfer window, piquing the interest of Arsenal heading into the upcoming window.
Arsenal go into the summer needing reinforcements at the back as the likes of Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Shkodran Mustafi left the club in January while veteran defender David Luiz is on his way out at the end of the season, with his contract running out. While the Gunners will welcome back loanees William Saliba and Konstantinos Mavropanos, the duo face an uncertain future at the Emirates.
In addition, with Calum Chambers now becoming a regular at right-back, adding another body at the heart of the defence would make sense for Arteta & co. To that end, they have also been linked to Odilon Kossounou apart from Andersen and now Adarabioyo has also emerged as a potential target for the north Londoners.
Apart from Arsenal, Newcastle United are also showing an interest in the 23-year-old, although the Gunners could have an advantage due to the presence of Arteta, who worked with Adarabioyo at Manchester City and knows him well. The report states that the defender has a release clause in his contract, although its value is not mentioned. It now remains to be seen if Arsenal do end up making a move for the 23-year-old come summer.
