Arsenal open 'preliminary talks' for star with £68 million release clause

A key bit of Arsenal transfer news during the Gunners' 1-1 draw with Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League round of 16 first leg on Wednesday night.

Arsenal were drawn against the German outfit in the first knockout round after topping the league phase with a perfect record of 24 points from eight games.

But Mikel Arteta's men failed to win in the Champions League for the first time this season, only managing a draw at the BayArena.

Robert Andrich opened the scoring with a header from a corner, giving Arsenal a taste of their own medicine.

Arsenal avoided defeat thanks to a late penalty from Kai Havertz against his former club after a controversial penalty call on Noni Madueke.

But while the game was going on, Arsenal's dealings with another Bundesliga side emerged.

Castello Lukeba is a target for Arsenal. Image: Getty

According to a report from L'Equipe in France, Arsenal have opened preliminary talks over a summer move for RB Leipzig centre-back for Castello Lukeba.

The 23-year-old has been with Leipzig for three seasons, moving from Lyon in 2023 and playing 95 times across three seasons.

Although contracted until 2029, it's understood that Lukeba is ready to move on in the summer and has a whole host of potential suitors.

Arsenal are right at the front of the queue alongside other Premier League sides and clubs in the Premier League and are said to have scouted him in a 2-2 draw with Borussia Dortmund in February.

Talks have taken place, though there is yet to be an official bid or contract offer on the table. A fee of £51 million has been mentioned for Lukeba, a left-footed centre-back who has also been previously linked with Bayern Munich.

Meanwhile, Florian Plettenberg of Sky says that Lukeba has a release clause of around £68 million in his contract and that a move to Bayern is unrealistic because of the fee

Leipzig are understood to be hopeful that a bidding war ensuing will him them drive up their price for another one of their top assets.

Arsenal are incredibly well-stocked in the position, with Gabriel Magalhaes, Ricardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie all best deployed as left-sided defenders.