Arsenal hold talks with PL rivals over sale of 27-year-old – report
By Danny Wright
West Brom have held talks with Arsenal over the signing of left-back Kieran Gibbs, according to a report.
The Express and Star claims that the Baggies are in “pole position” to snap up the 27-year-old, but are put off by Arsenal’s demands of a deal worth more than £14million for his transfer.
However it is understood that Albion manager Tony Pulis is more concerned about strengthening the spine of his team before investing in a new full-back.
Darren Fletcher has recently left the Hawthorns to join Stoke, and it is reported that Pulis would like to bring in a replacement for him in the centre of the pitch.
It will not be the first time this summer that Arsenal’s Premier League rivals West Brom have pulled out of signing a left-back as they missed out on Charlie Taylor, who left Leeds for Burnley in a compensation deal.
Gibbs is a product of Arsenal’s academy and despite playing a key role in the first-team in recent years, last season saw him reduced to playing the bulk of his football in cup competitons.
He featured just 11 times in the Premier League last term with most of them coming towards the end of the campaign as played a more advanced left midfield role as Arsene Wenger experimented with tactics.
Football Insider Verdict
It’s pretty clear that Gibbs no longer has a future at the Emirates but Arsenal need to be careful that they don’t alienate any potential suitors with their lofty transfer demands. A deal worth more than £14million is probably more than the ten-times England international’s true value, so bringing that down a fraction could tempt the Baggies – or another Premier League club – into snapping him up. That money will go a long way in helping the Gunners re-invest in the rest of their squad this summer and also recoup some of the fee spent on Alexandre Lacazette. As for West Brom, they have no traditional left-backs at the club and must get a deal done before the new season kicks off.
In other Arsenal news, the Gunners are in a race with Tottenham to land this attacker from one of their title rivals.
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