Newcastle plans to loan Rob Holding on hold as Arsenal delay | OneFootball

Newcastle United plans to sign Rob Holding are currently on hold, as Arsenal are delaying a potential loan move to review their options.

Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie claims Newcastle United’s plans to bring in Rob Holding on loan from Arsenal this season are currently on hold. Newcastle still hold an interest in the centre-back, but they need to wait for Arsenal’s final decision.

According to Downie, it depends on whether Arsenal decide to bring in a replacement, but I don’t find that part very convincing. Arsenal already have too many centre-backs, they need to offload at least a few of them before considering signing any.

More likely, Arsenal aren’t sure which defenders they’ll have available in the early stages of this season.

Is Gabriel Magalhaes ready after his move? How long will Shkodran Mustafi, Pablo Mari and Calum Chambers remain on the injury table? Can William Saliba slot into the side straight away? Is Sokratis Papastathopoulos leaving for Napoli?

Right now, only David Luiz is a sure thing to start at centre-back against Fulham. Kieran Tierney will probably feature alongside him, such is the uncertainty at the moment.

Arsenal don’t need to sign a replacement for Holding, they just need confirmation their internal replacements are ready for action. That’s why they’ll be delaying.