Postecoglou seething after Arsenal plot to hijack £25m Tottenham move for key target emerges
Arsenal are poised to rival Tottenham Hotspur for Galatasaray centre-back Victor Nelsson this summer, according to reports.
New Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou has made signing a quality defender his transfer priority. But, the Gunners could now scupper his plans.
Nelsson has already gained a reputation as one of the best young defenders in Europe. So, it will be interesting to see who wins the battle for his signature.
Indeed, as reported by TEAMtalk, Tottenham have matched Galatasaray’s price tag of €25m (£21.7m) for the defender. This came after they saw an initial €13m (£11.3m) offer rejected.
Postecoglou is very keen to get the deal done as soon as possible. That’s not really a surprise, though, given Spurs’ recent defensive performances.
Incredibly, the London club conceded 63 goals this season – giving them the sixth-worst defensive record in the league. This played a huge role in them finishing in a dismal eighth place.
Clearly, if Tottenham want to finish in the top four next season, they need to make some quality defensive additions in the transfer market. But, they may now have to look for alternative options to Nelsson.
READ MORE: Ange Postecoglou faces transfer headache as Tottenham told to up bid to £40m for Lloris replacement
Arsenal enter the race for Nelsson
According to Turkish outlet Fanatik, Arsenal are now strongly considering making a rival bid for Nelsson this summer.
Like Postecoglou, Mikel Arteta will make additions in the transfer market. And, given Arsenal can offer Champions League football, they are a more attractive destination than Tottenham at the moment.
For instance, the Gunners are currently plotting ambitious moves for the likes of Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo.
Now, though, they have Nelsson on their radar. But, they will have to match Tottenham’s £21.7m bid to have any chance of a deal.
The likes of Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba have been integral to Arsenal’s recent success. But, they could certainly do with some support – and Nelsson could be the ideal candidate.
This season, the Galatasaray defender has made 35 appearances across all competitions. In the process, he has helped keep an impressive 17 clean sheets.
Those are the kind of numbers that can make a huge difference to a team’s season. So, it will be interesting to see who comes out on top in the race for Nelsson this summer.
What’s for certain, is that if Arsenal do swoop in and hijack Tottenham’s deal for the Denmark international, Postecoglou will be furious.
