Lukeba is in demand. (Ronny HARTMANN / AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal already boast one of the strongest defensive units in Europe.
The established partnership of Gabriel Magalhães and William Saliba has been the foundation of their success, while the likes of Riccardo Calafiori, Jurrien Timber and Piero Hincapié offer elite versatility across the back line.
Add in emerging talents such as Cristian Mosquera and Lewis-Skelly, alongside the experience of Ben White, and it’s no surprise the Gunners are widely regarded as having the best defence in England.
Even so, the club are not standing still — and now they’ve reportedly been given the opportunity to strengthen even further ahead of the summer window.
Arsenal Told They Can Sign Lukeba
Arsenal have been informed that RB Leipzig centre-back Castello Lukeba will be available this summer, with the Bundesliga side ready to sanction his departure.
The 23-year-old French defender — described as “very athletic” by Bundesliga expert Tobias Kröger of Transfermarkt — has impressed since his move to Germany in 2023.
However, Leipzig are now prepared to part ways with him as part of a planned squad reshuffle, according to TEAMtalk.
Although Lukeba has a release clause set at around £70 million, Leipzig are understood to be open to offers closer to £55 million. That revised valuation has been communicated to several top Premier League clubs, including Arsenal, who are among those monitoring the situation.
Despite already having strong depth in defence, Arsenal are still keen on adding another natural left-sided centre-back. With Calafiori and Hincapié both capable of operating at full-back, Mikel Arteta is believed to want a more specialised central option.
Sporting director Andrea Berta has reportedly already carried out extensive groundwork on Lukeba as part of that plan.
While Arsenal’s defence is already the envy of many, the potential availability of Lukeba presents a rare market opportunity. Whether the Gunners choose to act may depend on outgoings and squad balance — but if they do move, they could take an already elite back line to an even higher level.
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