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West Ham United prepared to pay £5m loan fee for Arsenal's Rob Holding?

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 15 September 2020

West Ham United reportedly turn their attention to Rob Holding after being priced out of a move for James Tarkowski and are willing to offer Arsenal a £5m loan fee.

West Ham United are reportedly prepared to pay Arsenal £5m to take centre-back Rob Holding on loan for the 2020-21 season.

Hammers boss David Moyes has confirmed that he is in the market for a new central defender this summer, with the need for reinforcements highlighted in their opening-day Premier League loss at home to Newcastle United.

Burnley's James Tarkowski is understood to be at the top of their wish list, but the Clarets have rejected two bids so far and their £50m asking price has forced West Ham to consider other options.

The Daily Mail reports that they are now ready to turn their attentions to Holding, whom they hope to be able to sign on loan from their London rivals.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta recently insisted that Holding would be staying at the Emirates Stadium this season, with the 24-year-old starting in their 3-0 win over Fulham on the opening weekend.

However, the report claims that they could be persuaded into letting him leave given the number of other centre-back options available to Arteta, including Gabriel Magalhaes, David Luiz, Shkodran Mustafi, Pablo Mari, Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Calum Chambers.