Arsenal Just Got the Most Important Transfer of the Summer Window

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The injury to William Saliba serves as a significant turning point during Arsenal's campaign. The talented central defender was unfortunately forced off the field with an injury, and remained sidelined for the remainder of the season.

In Saliba's absence, Rob Holding and new arrival Jakub Kiwior stepped in to fill the defensive void. However, they were unable to replicate Saliba’s impressive skills and performances. Arsenal went on to draw three consecutive games before suffering damaging defeats to City and Brighton.

Jurrien Timber, who’s set to announce his move to Arsenal in the next few days, gives manager Mikel Arteta much-needed depth, enabling Arsenal to be competitive in both the Premier League and the Champions League. Additionally, it would offer insurance against future defensive injuries without compromising the team's overall quality. Such reinforcement would bring the squad closer to the level of excellence that Pep Guardiola has achieved in Manchester.

Timber, a 22-year-old, primarily operates as a centre-back for both Ajax and the Netherlands. Like Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu, Timber can play as both a centre-back and a right-back. This allows the manager to cover more positions with fewer players. Timber has also played at left-back a handful of times in his career and once filled in as a defensive midfielder. Like most top coaches, Arteta certainly cherishes players who can play multiple positions at a high level.

Timber still has two years left on his Ajax contract, so the Dutch club could potentially charge a fairly large amount if they needed to. However, De Telegraaf reported that Arsenal have agreed to pay an initial $45.7 million for the defender, with add-ons potentially bringing the figure up to $50.7 million.

This can be considered a good price in the current market for young players. Manchester United paid an initial $61.5 million to sign central defender Lisandro Martinez from Ajax last summer.