Transfer Centre

Arsenal 'to reject Jakub Kiwior loan bids in January'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 19 December 2023

Arsenal reportedly have no intention of letting Jakub Kiwior leave the club on loan in January amid interest from Roma and AC Milan.

Arsenal reportedly have no interest in letting Jakub Kiwior leave the club on loan during the January transfer window.

The Poland international has only been sparingly used since joining the Gunners from Spezia in the most recent winter window given the solidity of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes's partnership.

Kiwior has made just three Premier League starts this term - two of which have come as a left-back - while he has also featured from the first whistle just once in the Champions League.

The 23-year-old has been an unused substitute in a further 10 top-flight matches, and he only came off the bench for a one-minute cameo in the weekend's 2-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion.

With Saliba and Gabriel's alliance proving unbreakable, Kiwior has been linked with a departure next month as he aims to maximise his game time ahead of a potential appearance at Euro 2024.

Poland's Jakub Kiwior celebrates scoring their first goal before it is disallowed on September 10, 2023 © Reuters

Poland missed out on a place in the top two of their qualifying group, but they advanced to the playoffs thanks to their Nations League performance and will meet Estonia on March 21 before a possible showdown with Wales or Finland for a spot in Group D.

Several Serie A teams are thought to be interested in bringing Kiwior back to Italy, with Roma and AC Milan supposedly prepared to rival one another for the centre-back's signature.

A recent report claimed that Arsenal would be open to letting Kiwior leave on loan for the second half of the campaign, but according to the Evening Standard, the Gunners are expected to reject any offers.

The Premier League leaders apparently turned down a bid from Europa League winners Sevilla this summer, and they will adopt a similar approach next month given their injury problems in defence.

Jurrien Timber has not played since the opening weekend of the season due to an ACL injury, and the Dutchman is facing a race against time to be fit for the closing weeks of the season.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reacts on December 17, 2023 © Reuters

In addition, Takehiro Tomiyasu was recently ruled out for weeks with a calf injury, while Thomas Partey - who can fill in as an emergency right-back - may not be back from groin surgery until the New Year.

With Arsenal gearing up to take on Porto in the last 16 of the Champions League and also preparing to face Liverpool in the third round of the FA Cup next month, Kiwior should be afforded increased game time over the busy winter schedule.

The Gunners shelled out £21.5m to bring Kiwior to the club midway through the 2022-23 campaign, and he has come up with one goal in 21 games for the North London giants, who have him under contract until 2028.

While Kiwior is seen as a key part of Arsenal's future, the Gunners could soon be waving goodbye to another defender in Cedric Soares, who is out of contract in June and is free to enter talks with foreign clubs in January.

Spanish outfit Villarreal are believed to interested in a deal for Cedric and could even try to strike an agreement next month, allowing Arsenal to recoup a nominal fee for the 32-year-old.