Arsenal REJECT January offer for crucial star

Arsenal have rejected a €15 million offer from Napoli for Jakub Kiwior, according to Italian media.

The Pole has gone from surplus to requirements to crucial player in the space of a couple of weeks. Due to injuries to Gabriel Magalhaes and Riccardo Calafiori, Kiwior has attained a newfound importance to Mikel Arteta’s side.

Kiwior has always been a reliable if unspectacular servant to the Gunners and this has continued in his recent outings against Man Utd and Fulham in the Premier League.

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While Kiwior may lose his spot again once Gabriel or Calafiori return to full fitness, this brief spell of games will have shown Arteta that he can count on the 24-year-old when called upon and that he could yet prove crucial in the title race.

This, in turn, could massively alter Arsenal’s thinking heading into January.

Arsenal reject Kiwior offer

Due to his lack of minutes, Kiwior was in many circles viewed as all but guaranteed to depart north London in the January transfer window. It is well-known that the former Spezia defender still has admirers in Serie A.

AC Milan and Napoli have been linked with him for several months and it is the latter who, according to Tuttosport, have tabled a €15 million offer for the Poland international for the winter window.

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Arsenal, however, have rejected the bid and, it is claimed, are demanding at least €25m for Kiwior, so a little over €5m than what they paid for him in January 2023.

Former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is said to be a big fan of the versatile defender and is determined to bring him back to Italy. So far, however, there is ‘no indication’ that Napoli will be prepared to meet Arsenal’s valuation.

And perhaps this is good news for the Gunners. Given Calafiori’s well-documented injury issues, having a reliable defender like Kiwior available for the whole season and ready to step in could make or break Arsenal’s title challenge.