- Several clubs in Europe’s top five leagues, including the Premier League, are interested in Rob Holding
- Arsenal are ready to let the defender leave in the summer transfer window
- Holding has fallen the pecking order with Saliba, Ben White, and Gabriel preferred
Arsenal defender Rob Holding is generating significant interest from multiple leagues, including the Premier League and several top European competitions, as he enters the final year of his contract with the Gunners. Despite the option to extend his contract until the summer of 2025, Holding’s status at Arsenal has been affected by the emergence of Gabriel Magalhaes and the arrival of Ben White in 2021, pushing him down the team’s pecking order. William Saliba’s return from loan and strong performances in the 2022/23 season have further limited Holding’s opportunities with Arsenal.
In light of these developments, reports indicate that Arsenal is prepared to allow Holding to depart from the club before the transfer window closes at the end of the week. Fulham, a Premier League club, has already inquired about the 27-year-old defender. Additionally, clubs from La Liga, the Bundesliga, and Ligue 1 have expressed interest in acquiring Holding.
Despite being named as an unused substitute for the Community Shield match against Manchester City earlier in the month, Holding has not even made the bench for any of Arsenal’s three Premier League games thus far. Manager Mikel Arteta has preferred Ben White and William Saliba as his centre-back pairing.
Arsenal defending Rob Holding is yet to be involved this season, and the club is ready to let him leave. | PHOTO: Goal |
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Gabriel Magalhaes, who started all 38 Premier League games for Arsenal in the previous season, was the subject of interest from the Saudi Pro League during the summer transfer window. However, neither the player nor the club was inclined to engage in transfer negotiations, effectively taking a move off the table.
Rob Holding’s journey to this point is noteworthy. He joined Arsenal in 2016, making a surprising leap from lower-league club Bolton. Holding had only accumulated 31 senior club appearances in his career at the time of his transfer. His tenure with Arsenal has seen him make 39 appearances in all competitions during the 2020/21 season.
However, his prospects have shifted with the club’s defensive reinforcements. In his second season, Gabriel Magalhaes has become a near-constant starter, while Ben White’s arrival in 2021 further increased competition for central defensive roles. Holding’s chances of re-establishing himself in the starting lineup have dwindled with the emergence of William Saliba, who returned from a loan spell and had a breakthrough season in 2022/23.
As the transfer window’s closing date approaches, the future of Rob Holding remains uncertain. While Fulham and clubs from various European leagues have expressed interest, it remains to be seen where Holding will ultimately land and whether Arsenal will agree to his departure. Holding’s journey from lower-league football to a prominent Premier League club like Arsenal is a testament to his talent and potential value in the transfer market.
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