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Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has shared his opinion on Lloren Timber’s potential arrival at Arsenal and his place in the team.
According to Metro, the Gunners are set to sign Timber from Ajax for £36m plus £4m in add-ons. The Dutch player’s primary position is central defence, but he can also play as a right-back and has acted as a left-back on occasion.
Manchester United were linked with him last summer, but the move didn’t happen. He now looks set to join Arsenal, with United legend Rio Ferdinand believing Timber could replace Gabriel Magalhaes in a back four. Even if Timber replaces Oleksandr Zinchenko, he said, he would be a good line of defense for Arsenal.
“He’s quick. He can play. He’s good on the ball, and he’ll be a good addition to their team. I think he’s improved on what they have too. I might look at him and say Timber and William Saliba would have played,” Ferdinand said on his YouTube show Five.
The former player continued:
“I think it’s a good fight there. If Timber comes in, and they have Saliba, Gabriel, Ben White and Timber as a four, I’d be very comfortable with that if I was Mikel Arteta and I thought, ‘That’s a good four.'”
Ferdinand also made clear the need to have good options at the back and praised Arsenal’s signing of Timber.
“I think you need three or four good outfielders who will all rotate around and play at different times of the season; to come in and not drop in level.
“And I think that’s what they’ll look at there with them in four. He’ll be a great addition, and he can play in different positions as well.”
After arriving at the Ajax academy, Timber, 22, made 121 appearances for the Dutch national team, contributing six goals and four assists.
Jurrien Timber will become Arsenal’s third signing this summer
Arsenal challenged for the Premier League title last season and topped the table for 248 days. However, a run of three wins from their last nine matches saw Arsenal lose the title to Manchester City.
However, Arteta’s team qualified for the UEFA Champions League in six years. They are now looking to strengthen their squad to compete across competitions next season.
Arsenal have already confirmed the signing of Kai Havertz from London rivals Chelsea for £65m. Manager Mikel Arteta has hinted that he will play Havertz as a midfielder.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal are also set to sign Declan Rice from West Ham United for £105m, including add-ons. Romano also confirmed that Jurrien Timber is also set to move to the UAE this summer.
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