According to a report in Calcio Mercato, Arsenal are ready to challenge AC Milan and Leeds United in the signing of Clubs Brugge midfielder Charles De Ketelaere.
The 21-year-old enjoyed a wonderful previous season with Brugge, scoring 19 goals and providing four assists in 39 league outings and he’s also growing in stature in the Belgium national team.
Clubs Brugge are willing to cash in on him and it looks like he has no shortage of takers. According to Di Marzio, Milan have already made an opening bid of €20m + add-ons for the youngster but Brugge are not ready to let him leave for such a bargain deal.
Will Arsenal be able to tempt Charles De Ketelaere to join them?
Leeds United are yet to make any sort of formal offer for the 21-year-old but their hopes will be seriously dented if Arsenal’s interest in him is profound.
De Ketelaere’s current market value is €30 million and he still has two years left on his current deal so a fee of around €35-40 million should be enough to convince Club Brugge.
While Leeds and AC Milan can afford such amounts but Arsenal should be able to outmuscle them, for a variety of reasons.
Firstly, outbidding the two suitors won’t be a problem for the Gunners plus at the Emirates Stadium, he will get a lot more opportunities to play.
He is primarily a central midfielder but Charles De Ketelaere can play in almost every conceivable position in the final third and since Mikel Arteta is overhauling his forward line, the 21-year-old will get a lot of chances to prove himself.
He can play on the left-wing, the right-wing, as a second striker and even as a centre-forward and since the Gunners have missed out on both Raphinha and Richarlison, someone like Charles De Ketelaere can be the apt backup signing.
However, these rumours are still in their nascent stages so we will have to wait and see if Arsenal make any concrete moves or not.
