Arsenal enters the chase for Denzel Dumfries, as Inter Milan could consider a sale if they receive around €40 million for the Dutchman.
According to Calciomercatoweb, Denzel Dumfries emerged as a target for Arsenal in January. The Inter Milan full-back could be made available for €40 million, representing a massive profit for the Italian side.
Arsenal are considering making key moves when the transfer window opens in January. Mikel Arteta remains keen to bolster the squad ahead of a concerted title challenge after the World Cup. The Gunners’ boss knows where the shortcomings are in his team and will try to bridge the gap.
The club owners are prepared to financially back the Spaniard in this quest. Arsenal needs a new midfielder and a winger to keep up the momentum in the title race. One position they may need to reinforce is the right back area.
Yet, whispers in the Italian media suggest the Gunners could join the chase for Denzel Dumfries. The 26-year-old defender could be available for €40 million in January. Inter Milan continues to make concerted efforts to balance their books, and another profitable sale could be imminent.
Dumfries, signed for €14 million in the summer of 2021, could bring in massive profits if he decides to depart. There are plenty of sides, including Chelsea and Tottenham vying for his signature in January.
Manchester United are also keen on the 26-year-old defender, as his attacking prowess from the right-back position attracts many sides. Yet, it’s puzzling why Arsenal may want him in January when they need to bolster other areas.
One way to look at the situation is by analysing whether the Gunners need defensive reinforcements. They might be a quality centre-back short, although Ben White can play there. He has started every game at right-back this season, which has suited Arteta’s style.
Takehiro Tomiyasu is the second choice, but those stars need to be out-and-out attacking full-backs that Arteta may want. In this context alone, a move for Dumfries makes sense, although there are doubts about whether Arsenal will approach.
In January, Arteta may focus on other areas, like the wide attacking areas and central midfield. They could bring in an opportunistic signing like Dumfries if they find the space and money to make more deals.
Arsenal have four needs, only one of which is pressing.
1. Central midfield – Arsenal have needed a scoring/assisting central midfielder since Aaron Ramsey left. With the defensive and build up play demands on an Arsenal striker under Arteta, the scoring has to be spread aorund. Granit Xhaka is having his best scoring/assisting year in his current box-to-box role, but he’s over 30 and not anything near a dominating force from his position. Possible January signings: Sergej Milosivic-Savic, Youri Tielemans – the issue with either is, you bring them in, Xhaka becomes a bench/cup player.
2. Striker – this is not a pressing need. Jesus is prolific given his responsibilities and Nketiah has only really played in mop-up situations. Still, an injury to Jesus or Nketiah could cost the Gunners dearly. January Possibilities: It’s a thin bunch. Timo Werner might be worth a gamble or Arsenal could try to bring in a real challenger for Jesus with Jonathan David from Lille.
3. Goalkeeper – Matt Turner is a career journemany keeper. He is not and never will be an elite player. Aaron Ramsdale is a young keeper among the top five or six in the league, so signing a quality reserve is a tough ask – not many goal keepers good enough to contribute in the event of injury would be iwlling to sit behind Ramsdale for the next decade. This is a small ist. A possibility might be Lukasz Fabianski, the former Arsenal #1 and cup keeper is winding down his career at West Ham. His replacement is in place there. He might make a reutrn engagement.
4. Holding Midfield – Thomas Partey is bordering on world class and mohamed Elneny is a solid squad player; but Lokonga cannot play that role while Xhaka can, but not against top opponents. Fortunately there is lots of quality on offer in this role. Arsenal might do well to snatch West Ham’s second-best holding midfielder and bring in Tomas Soucek or bring in Reuben Neves, who might be more amenable to a move with the Wolves facing relegation. A shock, big money bid for Declan Rice would change perceptions of Arsenal and immediately boost their title chances. Man U just signed Casemiro, City don’t need himm, Liverpool want him, but a case could be made that the Gunners have over taken Klopps Flops this season. Tpottenham cannot or will not afford him, and Chelsea… Well, there’s always Chelsea to beat, but maybe a stealth move in January would succeed where a protracted tug-of-war with Chelsea in the summer would probably not work out well for Arsenal.
Arsenal do not need a right back. They have three. While Cedric is not a top level player, he can play in the cups and provide short-term rotation against lower-league opponents. Ben White has deputized well, and Takehiro tomiyasu has been somewhere between solid and spectacular when healthy.
Arsenal do not need a winger and it could be argued that signing one will hurt the team more than it will help. Arsenal have three 10-goal-a-season wingers: Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Emil Smith-Rowe. They also have the promising oyu star, Marquinos, and their home-grown Jeff Reiss-Nelson. First would be getting a player good enough to take minutes from any of the top three to sign when they might not play, and second would be, signing a winger would make all three of Arsenal’s non-starters, especially Smith-Rowe, , think it was time to move on.
Arsenal do not need a central defender. First, they won’t get one who can compete for a starting role when the Gunners have Saliba, Magalhaes, and White, as well as Rob Holding. Arsenal fans tend to discount Holding, but he is a very good player, capable of finding a hope as a starting player in most Premier League defneses. Second, if they do, they will lose one of the four they have, so the next improvement will be minimal, if any. Third, why instigate instability without an upside? You have good competition for all the defensive positions, There is a careful line to walk when creating competition before it turns into a poisonous cauldron of manager’s favorites, and discontented stars.