Leicester City and Newcastle United are reportedly set to wage battle for Arsenal defender Rob Holding over a late move this summer.
According to a report by football.london, Rob Holding is the subject of interest from Leicester City and Newcastle United over a late move in the summer transfer window. The Premier League duo are set to make their move for the English defender, although Arsenal are unlikely to cash in on him.
Rob Holding joined Arsenal from Bolton Wanderers in the summer of 2016. Since then, the 25-year-old has steadily grown in stature at the Emirates, although he is yet to carve his place as one of the first-choice centre-backs in the Gunners’ first-team setup.
To date, the English defender has amassed 117 appearances for Arsenal while chipping in with two goals along the way. And while he might not have grown as rapidly as was envisioned when Arsene Wenger brought him into the Arsenal setup half a decade ago, Holding is still rated quite highly within the Premier League, as is evidenced by the interest from Newcastle United and Leicester City.
Newcastle United appear to be in the market for a centre-back this summer, with Nathaniel Phillips of Liverpool also on their radar. The eagerness to bolster the heart of their defence is rather curious, though, considering there have not been any major changes at the back for the Magpies.
Nevertheless, Holding is certainly an option worth considering for Newcastle, if they make a move for the Arsenal defender. Leicester City, on the other hand, have a more urgent need to sign a central defender this summer, owing to the long-term injury sustained by Wesley Fofana in a pre-season friendly.
As a result, the Foxes have been linked with a host of centre-backs in the past week or so, with the latest being Jannik Vestergaard of Southampton. And Holding is a viable target as well, even if the former Premier League champions end up signing Vestergaard, seeing as Jonny Evans has been struggling with an injury of his own.
However, as per football.london, a move away from Arsenal is unlikely for Holding, who is likely to stay put and fight to become a first-choice centre-back, although the competition for places is rather intense. As for Newcastle and Leicester, they will have to set their sights elsewhere in search of a new central defender.