Arsenal enter race to sign defender Chelsea sold for just £4m | Football

Arsenal have reportedly joined Manchester City in the race to sign a highly-rated England international who came through Chelsea’s academy.

Following Thursday night’s goalless draw with Liverpool, the Gunners have moved six points clear of City and Aston Villa at the top of the Premier League table.

But while their title rivals are making moves in the January transfer window – with the Citizens signing Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth – Arsenal are expected to have a quiet month.

That said, Mikel Arteta is already looking ahead to the summer, with Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi and RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande among his targets.

Another name to add to the shortlist is Tino Livramento, with Arsenal ready to rival Man City for the Newcastle United defender, according to The Sun.

Livramento has excelled as both a right-back and left-back for the Magpies, playing a key role in their Carabao Cup triumph last season.

While a knee injury has disrupted this campaign, the 23-year-old has helped Eddie Howe’s side move up to sixth in the table and reach the semi-finals of the cup again.

He also helped England win the Under-21 European Championship last summer, being named in the Team of the Tournament, and is contention to make Thomas Tuchel’s squad for the upcoming World Cup.

City have long been linked with the full-back but held off on making a bid last summer after discovering his £60million price tag.

That valuation may drop with the player about to enter the last two years of his contract and though Newcastle hope to extend it, talks over a new deal have not yet begun.

The move would appear to be a strange one for Arsenal who are already well-stocked at full-back through Jurrien Timber, Ben White, Riccardo Calafiori, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Piero Hincapie.

White has been linked with leaving the Emirates however, while injury issues have plagued Arteta’s defence of late.

Livramento joined Newcastle from Southampton in 2023 for £30m, just two years after the Saints signed him from Chelsea for just £4m.

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