Mikel Arteta, you vicious, vicious man. By hijacking a transfer that both Manchester United and Liverpool were confident would be completed, the Arsenal manager has finally retaliated for all the times his transfer plans have been derailed.

Yesterday evening, it was reported by dependable journalist David Ornstein that the Gunners had started negotiations with Ajax to sign Jurrien Timber and had even set their opening bid at £30 million. Fabrizio Romano informed the supporters that Ajax would demand more than £30m and that Arsenal would have to increase their offer. Nevertheless, it is encouraging to see that the Gunners are effective in the transfer window.

🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal working on deal to sign Ajax defender Jurrien Timber. #AFC have made an opening offer worth ~£30m. #Ajax want ~£50m but optimism a compromise will be reached. Personal terms with Netherlands int’l thought to be in place @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/mdMeSXp3ff

— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) June 19, 2023

Liverpool and Manchester United are HIJACKED by Arsenal in exchange for Jurrien Timber.

After learning that Manchester United and Liverpool had increased their interest, Mikel Arteta reportedly started these negotiations to sign Timber. Savage.

The fact that Timber is trying to join Arsenal is better for fans. According to the report, Mikel Arteta is now even more certain that he will be signed.

Furthermore, this is NOT a panic purchase, so please note that. First of all, even though the transfer window has just opened, Arsenal DO need to bring in a versatile defender. Timber fits that description, and at 22 years old, he would be the ideal addition for Arteta to compete again the following season.

Timber’s ability to switch between the defensive center and the right flank actually makes me think of Joao Cancelo. The versatility of Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and this combination would give the Gunners a lot of depth for the upcoming season.

Do you think Jurrien Timber will join Arsenal?

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Khéphren Thuram has been signed, one more transfer – Dream Liverpool midfield line-up for upcoming season

Liverpool could probably have a completely new midfield before 2023-24. Khéphren Thuram might be one of them, but this is what the dream trio would look like.

Liverpool fail to define all the problems in midfield from last season. Clearly Jürgen Klopp doesn’t think so either, having decided to sign a forward in January to try and break the slide.

It worked, at least to some extent. No immediate fix, Cody Gakpo improved the press as he adapted to Roberto Firmino’s role and Liverpool’s results trended upwards. The real game-changer, however, was the decision to place Trent Alexander-Arnold in a hybrid role to give the midfielder that extra bite and punch he desperately needed.

Whether this solution lasts or not, Liverpool will now be keen to strengthen the midfield unit that surrounds them. This process has already been initiated by Alexis Mac Allister, but ideally a few more midfielders would be added before the end of the transfer window.

One name that keeps coming up is Chephren Thuram, and that would be a wise addition indeed. A third signing would give Liverpool the chance to field a whole new trio, but the real key for Klopp is to restore real options.

After all, while the boss technically “stands in” for Naby Keïta and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, neither was reliably available. James Milner is a machine, but Liverpool clearly didn’t want to turn to the 37-year-old as a starter too often. New blood means legitimate rotation opportunities.

So who would be the ideal option to enter next to Thuram? In many ways, it depends on how you view Mac Allister. No doubt his versatility was part of his attraction to Liverpool, but presumably Klopp has an idea whether he will primarily use him as a number six or advanced number eight.

Though he has the skills to play the deeper role, he seems a bit of a waste. While that position would hamper his attacking performance somewhat, playing as a number eight would allow him to shine offensively by using his defensive prowess as part of Liverpool’s proactive drive from the front.

As for Thuram, he is undoubtedly a number eight. He can also hold his own in defence, a requirement for any Liverpool midfielder, but he won’t play as the strongest option.

With that in mind, there are good reasons for Liverpool to sign a number six specialist and questions remain over Fabinho. The problem is that no one of this type has actually been linked.

Off-piste, Martín Zubimendi could be the ideal candidate. It looks like Barcelona will fail in their efforts to sign the man hailed as the new Sergio Busquets. The 24-year-old seems very happy at Real Sociedad but Liverpool should at least ask themselves the question.

Signing someone like that would see Liverpool’s dream midfield formation really materialize. Zubimendi would come into play as an immediate starter, just like Mac Allister before him. Meanwhile, Klopp’s current options are far from terrible – they would only compete for one spot (with Thuram in the mix) rather than having to fill all three.

The likes of Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott and of course captain Jordan Henderson will all feel like they can do something about it. If Thiago is fit, he can be added to this list and will soar. But Klopp rightly rewards form, so maybe it’s Jones’ position that loses out in pre-season.

Therefore, at the end of a dream summer, the Liverpool midfield lineup would look like this: Zubimendi, Mac Allister, Jones. However, none of them would be safe under pressure from Fabinho, Stefan Bajčetić and Henderson in the bigger role, and Thuram, Elliott and Thiago further up. Suddenly a problem area would seem like a real selling point.