Arsenal could sign a new defender before the transfer deadline if Jakub Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko leave, GIVEMESPORT senior correspondent Fabrizio Romano has revealed.
The Gunners are anticipating a busy end to the summer window following the arrival of Eberechi Eze, as late defensive reinforcements may be on the horizon amid ongoing talks over Kiwior’s exit.
Porto are reportedly targeting a move for the Polish international in the final week of the market and are prepared to ‘attack’ the situation for the 25-year-old’s arrival.
Romano claims Arsenal could look to sign a versatile left-sided defender if both Kiwior and Zinchenko, who are on contracts worth a combined total of close to £210,000 per week, depart, despite Mikel Arteta’s already long list of options in both central and left-sided defence.
Romano, speaking on his YouTube channel, revealed that Arsenal could explore the left-sided defender market if Kiwior and Zinchenko depart in the final week of the summer transfer window:
“Porto want to attack for Jakub Kiwior. If Kiwior leaves, Arsenal could go for a new centre-back.
“Arsenal could sign a left-footed player, because if Kiwior leaves, if Zinchenko leaves, Arsenal could add one more player who can play as a centre-back and as a left-back when needed.
“Obviously, they have Calafiori, they have Myles Lewis-Skelly in that position, but having one more, if Kiwior and Zinchenko leave, could be a possibility.”
Kiwior, who signed for Arsenal for £20m in January 2023 from Italian side Spezia, has made 68 appearances for the Gunners to date, scoring three goals and providing five assists.
The 2000-born Polish international struggled for regular minutes under Arteta last term, making just 10 Premier League starts and another eight in the Champions League.
Romano claims Porto are expected to make an improved bid for Kiwior this week, after seeing their initial offer rebuffed by the Gunners in July.
Zinchenko, meanwhile, was linked with a move to Turkish side Fenerbahce earlier this month, having seen his playing time and role diminish under Arteta in recent months.
The Ukraine international has made just eight starts for Arsenal across all competitions in 2024/25, with Riccardo Calafiori and Myles Lewis-Skelly both ahead of him in the pecking order.
