Arsenal complete first 2023 signing as Arteta lands ‘phenomenal’ defender on pre-contract – report | OneFootball

Arsenal have agreed a deal to sign Eintracht Frankfurt defender Evan Ndicka when he becomes a free agent next year, according to reports.

The Gunners are expected to be busy in January but will apparently wait until the summer to sign Ndicka on a free transfer.

Mikel Arteta may adopt the same approach in his quest to sign a new midfielder, with long-time target Youri Tielemans also out of contract next summer.

A new forward will probably be signed next month following the knee injury picked up by Gabriel Jesus, however.

Another left-footed central defender is definitely on the agenda for Arteta and director of football Edu.

Gabriel Magalhaes is the only left-footer at the club who can play in the heart of the defence.

Arteta has William Saliba, Benjamin White and Rob Holding as his right-footed options.

Arsenal have clearly sniffed out a tremendous opportunity with Ndicka, given the fact he has reportedly told Frankfurt he does not intend to sign a new contract.

The uncapped Frenchman helped Frankfurt win the Europa League last season and has started 23 of his side’s 24 competitive games in 2022-23.

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The 23-year-old has made 162 appearances for the German outfit in total and played twice against Arsenal’s arch-rivals Tottenham in the Champions League this term.

Described as a “phenomenal” talent by former Frankfurt head coach Adi Hutter, Ndicka is highly rated in Germany.

And he will be an Arsenal player next season, according to Italian outlet Il Romanista.

Serie A club AS Roma have been pursuing the 23-year-old but have been beaten in the race by the Premier League leaders.

Furthermore, he wants to stay with the Bundesliga side until the end of the season, ruling out a transfer in January.

This is ‘not good news’ for Roma, who appear to have no chance of swooping in and nabbing the player from the Gunners.

Ndicka has ‘already reached an agreement with Arsenal’, meaning Roma could chase Leicester City defender Caglar Soyuncu.

The Turkish centre-half, like Ndicka, is out of contract next summer.

Tottenham have also been linked with Ndicka, and could make an approach with Clement Lenglet’s loan ending at the end of 2022-23.

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