Arsenal make U-turn on Rob Holding future?

Arsenal are reportedly prepared to keep Rob Holding at the Emirates Stadium for the 2020-21 campaign.

A number of Gunners defenders are understood to be at risk of being offloaded by the North London outfit as Mikel Arteta looks to reshape his squad ahead of the new season, with the likes of Sokratis and Shkodran Mustafi both expected to leave.

With Arsenal having recently secured the signature of Gabriel Magalhaes from Lille, Holding is another centre-back who has seen his future called into question on several occasions.

Leeds United and Newcastle United are both believed to hold an interest in the Englishman, but according to Sky Sports News, a transfer to the North East is now dead in the water.

The report suggests that Holding was close to joining Newcastle on loan for the 2020-21 campaign, but Arsenal are now reluctant to let the 24-year-old leave and want to keep him around at the Emirates.

Holding made just 18 appearances across all competitions during a turbulent 2019-20 campaign, and the former Bolton Wanderers man has just under three years left to run on his current deal with the Gunners.