Crystal Palace are late favourites to sign Arsenal defender Rob Holding before tonight’s transfer deadline as Eagles look to strengthen defensively
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Crystal Palace are emerging as the leading contenders to land Arsenal defender Rob Holding on a permanent deal before tonight’s transfer deadline.
Centre-back Holding has been among the players Arsenal have been open to offers for in this window.
Mail Sport‘s Isaan Khan can reveal that Palace have agreed a £4million fee with the Gunners.
He has been subject of interest from clubs in England, Italy and Spain this summer but Palace are increasingly hopeful of strengthening their defensive options by securing the 27 year-old.
Besiktas emerged as a potential destination for the former England youth international with the club reportedly considering a loan move.
Crystal Palace are eying a late move for out-of-favour Arsenal defender Rob Holding
The 27-year-old made 24 appearances in all competitions for Mikel Arteta’s side last season
The Turkish giants ultimately attempted to sign Holding permanently, and submitted a £2milllion bid in July that was rejected by the Gunners.
Arsene Wenger brought Holding to the Emirates in a £2m move from Bolton in 2016.
Holding would make an immediate impact at the club, playing the full 90 minutes of Arsenal’s FA Cup final win over Chelsea in his maiden campaign.
The defender would claim his second FA Cup winner’s medal in 2020, and has made over 150 appearances for the club in all competitions.
Should Holding make the move to Selhurst Park this summer, he would become the Eagles’ fourth signing of the window, following Matheus Franca, Dean Henderson and Jefferson Lerma.
When asked about a potential move for the 27-year-old on Friday, Palace boss Roy Hodgson replied: ‘Holding is a player that has interested us for a while. We are working on the basis that you can’t have too many good players in your squad.
‘So if he was available and it was a deal that was doable for the club I can only say I would be very happy to work with him. There is space in our squad for another player and if it was Rob I’d be very happy with that.’
