Mikel Arteta ready to sell Jakub Kiwior as Arsenal identify £75m replacement

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is preparing for life without out-of-favour defender Jakub Kiwior next season, and it is believed the Gunners have identified a potential marquee replacement for the Poland international.

Arsenal transfer plans with players likely to leave this summer

Both Thomas Partey and Jorginho are set to leave Arsenal this summer with their contracts expiring in July, prompting the club to be heavily linked with an array of top-class midfield replacements.

Arsenal are contending with PSG for soon-to-be free agent Joshua Kimmich, but the Bayern Munich and Germany legend could yet attract more interest as we slowly approach the summer transfer window.

Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi and Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Larsson are other top targets being considered by Arteta’s side, with the north Londoners plotting a potential overhaul in the engine room (Florian Plettenberg).

Arsenal are not actively looking to sell Gabriel Martinelli, despite some reports, but they would be more inclined to listen to offers for Leandro Trossard, considering the Belgian is about to enter the final 12 months of his contract at the Emirates (Ben Jacobs).

Defensively, uncertainty surrounds the future of Oleksandr Zinchenko given his lack of game time under Arteta, while fellow left-back Kieran Tierney is poised to join Celtic when his Arsenal contract expires this summer.

Kiwior, who hasn’t played a single Premier League minute since mid-December, is also facing his final few months as an Arsenal player.

Arsenal identify Marc Guehi as potential replacement for Jakub Kiwior

That is according to website Just Arsenal, who claim Arteta’s side are preparing to sell the 25-year-old for a price of up to £25 million.

The versatile centre-back isn’t exactly short of admirers, with Sevilla, Villarreal, Juventus, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Napoli, Atalanta, Fiorentina, and Bologna all expressing an interest in signing Kiwior during the last transfer window.

Unnamed clubs from England have also inquired over Kiwior’s availability, so this could be one to watch. In terms of potential replacements for him, it is believed that Arsenal are weighing up a summer move for Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi.

The England international was subject to a surprise £70 million bid from Tottenham

in January, with Chelsea also viewed as firm contenders to re-sign Guehi after letting him join Palace in 2021.

Arsenal are apparently considering a move for Guehi, though, and have identified him as a strong candidate to reinforce their backline. As well as the Eagles defender, it is believed that Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen and Ajax’s Jorrel Hato are other options being thought of.

Despite Guehi’s deal being set to expire in 2026, Palace could demand as much as £75 million to let him go this summer.