Milan eyeing Jakub Kiwior deal, Mikel Arteta won’t block his exit

AC Milan are interested in signing Arsenal defender Jakub Kiwior during the January transfer window, according to Gazzetta dello Sport (page 2).

Kiwior joined the Gunners from Italian side Spezia for €25 million last winter and he has since played only 973 minutes in all competitions for the club.

The Poland international has been a squad player for the north London giants and has only been used when manager Mikel Arteta has opted for rotation.

It is now reported by Gazzetta dello Sport that Milan are looking into a temporary deal for Kiwior in January with a right for redemption next summer.

The Rossoneri are prepared to hand Kiwior with a starting role ‘immediately’ after the injury to Malick Thiaw, considering his prior Serie A experience.

Arteta has apparently made it clear that he won’t block any suitable deals and the source mention that Kiwior is not irreplaceable in the Gunners squad.

Kiwior leaving in January would be a huge surprise

The Gunners currently have William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes as the regular central defenders.

Kiwior is the immediate back-up option in the squad, considering Jurrien Timber and Takehiro Tomiyasu are both injured. Timber could be sidelined for the most of the campaign after a serious knee injury.

Meanwhile, the Gunners are also short in depth in the left-back department. Oleksandr Zinchenko is injury-prone and Arteta is bound to rotate him with Kiwior after a certain number of games.

Hence, we would be surprised if the 23-year-old heads for the exit door. Arsenal have young graduates in Reuell Walters and Lino Sousa to provide back-up but the duo are yet to make their debuts.

The manager is unlikely to throw them in the firing line for the title challenge. Unless, the hierarchy have promised Arteta to buy another versatile defender, Kiwior should stay put until the summer.

Stats from Transfermarkt.com