Soon to be appointed Juventus manager Thiago Motta now wants to make an Arsenal player his first signing at the Serie A club.
In order to achieve their lofty ambitions in the transfer market this summer, Mikel Arteta and Edu will need to make some tough calls.
No one at the club will want to lose Aaron Ramsdale, but will recognise that he’s not befitting of a number two role.
Similarly, Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah are incredibly popular figures, two Hale End graduates.
But with their first team chances diminishing last season, there’s simply no reason to believe things will improve at present.
And on the subject of tough calls, Arsenal may actually end up parting ways with players who have played significant roles in the first eleven last season.
Arsenal are willing to sell Gabriel Jesus for the right price, and Thomas Partey is reportedly again free to leave this summer.
But perhaps even more surprising than the names mentioned, Jakub Kiwior is also potentially a candidate to depart.
Thiago Motta wants to reunite with Arsenal defender Jakub Kiwior at Juventus
Arsenal reportedly would sell Kiwior if an ‘attractive’ offer arrived this summer, and AC Milan have already shown some interest.
And now according to a report by Italian outlet Tuttomercato, new Juventus boss Motta wants to enact a reunion with Kiwior at Juventus.
Motta knows the Poland international well from their days together at Spezia, the side Arsenal paid £20m to sign Kiwior from.
And the report states that €20m (roughly £17m) would be enough to sign the defender this summer – which would mean a small loss for Arsenal.
It’s hard to imagine such an offer would be accepted by Edu, given the club are in absolutely no rush to move Kiwior on, a player who was ‘unbelievable’ at left-back during Arsenal’s run of wins in the new year.
Kiwior made 30 appearances across all competitions, and although he was replaced at left-back by Takehiro Tomiyasu in the final month or so, he still has an important role to play.
Set to represent Poland at Euro 2024, Kiwior will hope to push Gabriel Magalhaes at left centre-back next season, which will be no easy task.
And given one of the club’s Premier League rivals may be willing to sell a left-side defender linked with Arsenal, a new challenge actually might suit Kiwior at this point.