Arsenal are considering using Reiss Nelson or Ainsley Maitland-Niles in their bid to sign Crystal Palace defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka, according to reports.
Wan-Bissaka has been in sublime form for Palace this season and his impressive performances have reportedly attracted interest from a host of Premier League clubs including Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham.
But The Sun on Sunday report that Arsenal scout Brian McDermott is keeping tabs on Wan-Bissaka and the Gunners are ‘desperate’ to sign the 21-year-old.
Palace are reporting asking for a £40 million transfer fee but Arsenal want to lower that asking price by offering players in exchange.
Nelson, who is currently on loan at Hoffenheim, is reportedly a potential candidate. As is Maitland-Niles who has deputised at both left-back and right-back for Inside Emery this season.
The report claims that Arsenal’s recruitment team are ‘convinced’ that Wan-Bissaka is the player they want to sign this summer.
Meanwhile, Roy Hodgson admitted this week that he was not surprised after Wan-Bissaka failed to make England’s senior squad for the upcoming international break.
‘My eyebrows weren’t raised, I don’t see why they should be,’ said the Crystal Palace boss.
‘He is picked for the England Under-21s which in itself is a very, very big honour.
‘It is good to know that, reading Gareth’s comments, he is obviously aware of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and what he can do.
‘I don’t think Aaron, myself or anyone at the club should start jumping onto media speculation regarding the player. It is up to him to keep playing well.
‘We believe in him. We believe he has a very, very good future at the age of 21.
‘At that age, you have got an awful lot of football and an awful lot of time to play for England in the future. It has no effect on us whatsoever.’