Ajax react to Arsenal’s opening bid for key Erik ten Hag transfer target | Soccer

The Gunners are set to confirm the Portugal Under-21 international’s arrival in the next few days after the highly-rated playmaker arrived in London for his medical on Friday.

According to The Athletic, Mikel Arteta will now turn his attention to strengthening his defensive lines with the addition of a left center half.

The Brazil international impressed last season and was almost omnipresent, but with European football on the agenda next season, Arteta feels the Gunners are falling short in that department, while Gabriel himself could be a Juventus target target.

Arsenal have reportedly turned down an initial €30m offer for Ajax’s Lisandro Martinez but are expected to return with an improved offer for a player keen to join.

Arteta believes Martinez, 24, could act as cover for Kieran Tierney, who frustratingly missed the run-in last season after suffering another injury setback.

Arsenal have been linked with Tierney’s Scotland team-mate Aaron Hickey but face competition from a number of Premier League clubs.

Erik ten Hag, meanwhile, had earmarked Martinez as one of the players he hoped to bring to Manchester United from Ajax but the Dutchman is enjoying a frustrating start to his rebuilding project.

United are struggling to agree a fee for Frenkie de Jong with Barcelona, ​​while Jurrien Timber has opted to stay at Ajax.

The centre-back is regarded as one of the best young defenders in European football but doesn’t want to give up the guarantee of regular first-team football that broke into Louis van Gaal’s Netherlands national team ahead of November’s World Cup.

MORE: Arsenal hero Paul Merson urges Mikel Arteta to sign Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse

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