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Published November 28, 2024 4:19pm Updated November 28, 2024 4:19pm
Napoli have enquired about Jakub Kiwior’s potential availability and Arsenal are open the idea of the defender leaving on loan in January.
Kiwior is in his second full season with Arsenal having joined the north London giants from Serie B outfit Spezia Calcio in January 2023.
The versatile 24-year-old made 30 appearances in all competitions for the Gunners last term, providing Mikel Arteta with useful cover at both centre-half and left-back.
But first-team minutes have been few and far between for Kiwior this season, with the defender yet to make a single start in the Premier League, and there is growing speculation that he could be heading back to Italy this winter.
Juventus were heavily linked with Kiwior across the summer transfer window and La Gazzetta dello Sport even reported that the out-of-favour Poland international had said ‘yes’ over a proposed switch to Inter Milan.
According to transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio, Napoli are the latest Serie A club to declare their interest in Kiwior, despite head coach Antonio Conte harbouring some doubts given the player’s peripheral role at the Emirates.
‘Napoli have asked about Kiwior’s situation and now Arsenal are open to loaning him,’ Di Marzio told Polish outlet Goal.pl.
‘Conte is wondering if he is good enough to play for Napoli because he is not playing for Arsenal.
‘But Napoli will definitely ask and try to loan him.
‘Now is the time for him to go back to Italy because he has to play.’
Kiwior’s current contract with Arsenal, which he signed upon his arrival from Spezia Calcio, runs through to the summer of 2028.
There had been rumours that Kiwior could leave Arsenal in search of regular game-time last January but the Pole stayed put, with his agent pouring cold water on the transfer gossip.
‘Kuba is an Arsenal player,’ Pawel Zimonczyk told Polish outlet Kanal Sportowy at the time.
‘There are no signs that they want to get rid of him and I don’t think anything will happen in the winter window.’
Kiwior, meanwhile, admitted it was flattering to learn of interest from other top clubs in Europe.
‘It’s definitely nice and I’m glad there’s interest in me,’ he told Super Express.
‘But I focus on what is now. Besides, there have been no talks with me yet.’
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