Bolton HOLDING off Arsenal!
Arguably one of the first players Arsenal were linked with this summer came right at the first sighting of the end of the Premier League season. The football league had finished, Bolton were relegated and Arsenal were linked with Bolton’s young centre back prospect Rob Holding. Something about the rumour seemed very Arsenal like and many believed that he would be likely to be join up with the Gunners during the summer. However Since then it has all gone very quiet on the Rob Holding front.
Arsenal have reportedly had one bid turned down by Bolton for Holding already, as it was apparently nowhere near their valuation for the player. The bid was rumoured to be around the £1.5 million mark, which in today’s inflated market would be an absolute steal for a very promising English centre back. That kind of price tag would undoubtedly be risk free and so Arsenal were unlucky to have their approach rebuffed. It is uncertain as to whether Arsenal have followed up their interet any further, however according to local new sources in Bolton, Premier League side Bornmouth have also registered their interest in Holding, by making a bid greater than what Arsenal originally offered.
Arsenal may be on the lookout for a new centre back and if Holding was to join in a ‘cheap as chips’ deal, then I’m sure nobody would complain. Arsene Wenger shouldn’t be hassling too much over a player who is unlikely to cost more than a few million and with the investment he could bring to Arsenal at 20 years of age, it makes him a very promising target. He could be a decent youth investment and someone who could partner Chambers in years to come, because personally I think Gabriel is going to struggle to become a leading Premier League defender. If Arsenal were to sign Holding, then it gives us another option in defence, however it’s also vitally important that Arsenal also sign a top quality, experienced centre back this summer to partner Laurent Koscielny, otherwise the Gunners can be in fear of struggling at the back when the inevitable injures start to kick in.
By AH