Arsenal ready to pay £31m for defender also linked with Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham

Arsenal are willing to spend over £30m on Inter Milan right-back Denzel Dumfries, according to a report.

Dumfries joined Inter in 2021 when Antonio Conte was the manager but he could now become a rival to his former boss, with the Gunners reportedly interested in his services.

According to Italian outlet CMW, Arsenal are considering a £31million bid which falls £4million shy of Inter's asking price.

Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are also said to be interested in the Dutchman.

Dumfries was described as "amazing" by Ally McCoist during Holland's 2020 European Championships last season.

Speaking to Dutch publication Telegraaf, Dumfries addressed how he felt about the speculation to Chelsea in the last couple of months.

"The interest flatters me, of course. But my focus now is only on Inter. We want to win the Scudetto because we lost it last season," he said.

The right-back position at Arsenal is currently occupied by Ben White, who has been sensational for the Gunners this season which has earned himself a ticket to Qatar with Gareth Southgate's England squad.

For that reason, it would be strange for the recruitment team at Arsenal to be focusing on a right-back considering how good White has been.

(Image via: Alamy)

Arsenal's squad can look "thin at times"

Former Arsenal man, Alan Smith, believes the Gunners will need to strengthen in the January transfer window if they are to push for the Premier League title.

“I think it’s no secret that the squad needs strengthening,” Smith told the Sky Sports Football Podcast. “It can look thin at times and it can look short of quality. Mikel Arteta would, in private, concede that and I’m sure he’d like to add in January. The recruitment department is on the money and they plan ahead to January and the following summer, so it will be interesting to see if they can add to the squad in January.”