Arsenal ‘ready to rival Tottenham’ for £20m-rated Joachim Andersen this summer with boss Mikel Arteta ‘targeting Danish centre back as a replacement for David Luiz’
- Fulham’s relegation from the Premier League has seen their players targeted
- Arsenal are reportedly ready to push to sign centre back Joachim Andersen
- Tottenham are believed to be ‘in pole position’ but Arsenal are reportedly keen
- Mikel Arteta is targeting reinforcements after a disappointing 2020-21 campaign
Arsenal are reportedly ready to go head-to-head with north London rivals Tottenham this summer for in-demand defender Joachim Andersen.
Andersen, 24, has been one of the few bright sparks in a campaign which has seen Fulham immediately relegated back to the Championship.
Tottenham are reported to be in ‘pole position’ to land Anderson, who was on loan at Fulham from Lyon, but the Telegraph report that Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are ‘ready to compete’ for the Danish international.
Defender Joachim Andersen is a man in demand ahead of the summer transfer window
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is believed to be targeting the 24-year-old Denmark international
Arteta is reported to see Andersen as a long-term replacement for David Luiz, should he leave the Emirates Stadium this summer.
With no European football for the first time in 25 years, Arsenal have their work cut out in acquiring their top targets amid competition from teams in the Champions League and Europa League.
Andersen featured 29 times for Fulham in the Premier League in 2020-21 where he scored one goal, and recorded one assist.
David Luiz is out of contract this summer and Andersen is reportedly viewed as a replacement
Arsenal do have William Saliba returning from his loan at Nice but Arteta is said to have seen enough from Andersen to pursue a move for him as part of his summer overhaul.
Luiz is out of contract at Arsenal this summer and at 34 he is in the twilight of his career with Anderson a decade his junior.
Arteta called on Arsenal’s board to back in this summer as he needs ‘resources’ to restore the Gunners back into European competition.
Arteta said, though: ‘Let’s see what happens. It’s difficult to predict that one but in general we wouldn’t like to do that [sacrifice players] because we’re only going to be stronger.
Andersen has established himself as a vital cog of Fulham’s backbone this season on loan
‘I think is clear that if we want to improve the team we need some resources.’
From Tottenham’s side in a race for Andersen, they have Danish international Pierre-Emile Højbjerg in their ranks to try and draw the defender in their direction but the Lyon star won’t be short of options to remain in England.
Ryan Mason is in temporary charge and much of their transfer business could depend on who Daniel Levy appoints as Jose Mourinho’s permanent successor.
