EXCL: Arsenal in Timber talks, player temped by Arteta project, plus the latest on Jackson-Chelsea, Hojlund Man Utd, big Saudi targets, and more

Today's exclusive column, featuring Arsenal, Man Utd, Chelsea and more.

Arsenal want Timber as another Zinchenko

I can confirm that Arsenal have an interest in signing Jurrien Timber from Ajax - the story first broken by David Ornstein and The Athletic. This is a concrete possibility for Arsenal - Timber is top of their list of centre-back targets, along with Mohamed Simakan from RB Leipzig, and Bayer Leverkusen’s Edmond Tapsoba, who has also been followed by Tottenham for a long time but who is thought to be too expensive for Arsenal this summer.

Arsenal are now working on Timber, there have been some exchanges, but there aren’t great memories for Arsenal there as they also tried to sign Lisandro Martinez from Ajax last summer, only to be beaten to his signature by Manchester United. Still, Arsenal are optimistic over Timber - he has only two years left on his contract and he’s been very clear that he won’t sign a new deal with Ajax. His priority is to leave, and he wants an experience in the Premier League. He’s tempted by Arsenal’s project, and Mikel Arteta likes him because he can play centre-back, right-back, and defensive midfield if needed - they see him as a bit of an Oleksandr Zinchenko player.