Arsenal make Ajax’s Jurriën Timber top target to strengthen defence

Arsenal have identified Ajax’s Jurriën Timber as their top target to strengthen in defence. The 22-year-old Netherlands international is keen on the move but the clubs are apart over the valuation, with Ajax demanding more than £30m.

RB Leipzig’s Mo Simakan is also on Arsenal’s list as Mikel Arteta pushes to reinforce a backline that struggled in April during William Saliba’s absence, conceding 11 goals in four games against Liverpool, West Ham, Southampton and Manchester City as the team fell away in the title race.

Simakan, who is 23 but part of the France Under-21 squad at the Euros that start on Wednesday, can play at centre-back or right-back. Timber is more a specialist central defender, although he has been used at right-back before this season. Arsenal will continue talks to try to secure Timber, who was pursued by Manchester United and their former Ajax manager, Erik ten Hag, last summer. The player ended up extending his contract to 2025.

Arsenal are also attempting to buy the midfielder Declan Rice and had an £80m offer rejected by West Ham last week. Arsenal intend to move quickly to secure Rice with Manchester City monitoring the situation as they await a decision from Ilkay Gündogan on whether he will extend his stay.

Timber’s Netherlands teammate Justin Kluivert, who is owned by Roma but spent this season on loan at Valencia, is wanted by Bournemouth. Negotiations for a permanent deal are continuing as Bournemouth try to bolster their squad after sacking Gary O’Neil as their manager and appointing Andoni Iraola.