‘I want to join’: Laporte have now make his transfer stance clear Amid recent links with Arsenal to replace Timber
Arsenal continue to be linked with a move for Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte following Jurrien Timber’s knee injury.
The Gunners got their 2023/24 Premier League campaign under way on Saturday afternoon, securing a 2-1 victory over Nottingham Forest thanks to goals from Eddie Nketiah and Bukayo Saka. But summer signing Timber was forced off shortly after half-time, clutching his right knee.
The north Londoners have since released a statement regarding the Dutch international, confirming that he will undergo a further detailed assessment and review with a consultant in the coming days to assess the full extent of the problem. Considering fellow defenders Takehiro Tomiyasu and Oleksandr Zinchenko have suffered their fair share of injuries in recent years, a long layoff for Timber could then force Arsenal back into the transfer market this summer.
One name that has previously been mooted as a potential target is City centre-back Laporte and transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has now confirmed that Mikel Arteta is indeed interested in the 29-year-old. “Earlier in the summer, Arsenal looked at bringing in a ‘traditional’ centre-back, more than a versatile player like Timber, who can play everywhere in defence”, Romano said, via Caught Offside.
“One player they appreciate is Aymeric Laporte – the rumours are true in the sense that he is liked by Arsenal. But the problem is Manchester City don’t want to sell another player to Arsenal, they prefer another destination for him, so let’s see if Arsenal return for Laporte or if they try to replace Timber with a full-back instead.
“Internal discussions will take place on that, with Mikel Arteta involved.” Laporte and Arteta previously worked together during the latter’s time as City assistant coach.
The now-Gunners boss spent three and a half years at the Etihad Stadium, with the pair’s time in Manchester overlapping for a little under 24 months. Discussing his relationship with Arteta back in 2020, Laporte said: “Mikel is a great coach and, for me, he has been one of the best people I have met in Manchester.
“He tries to help players all the time, he had a really good relationship with everyone and with me especially.” Of course, the two clubs would have to agree on a fee for any transfer to occur but if the Spanish international’s comments are anything to go by, he would have no issue reuniting with his compatriot at the Emirates Stadium.
