Arsenal are reportedly closing in on the signing of Spezia and Poland centre-back Jakub Kiwior.
The 22-year-old came through the youth academy at Anderlecht before spending time in Slovakia with Podbrezova and MSK Zilina, and he joined his current club in the summer of 2021.
Kiwior immediately became a regular for the Serie A side and has made 43 appearances in all competitions for Spezia, helping them stay in the top flight in the 2021-22 season.
The Poland international has already started 17 Serie A matches for Spezia in the current campaign, and he was a consistent starter for Poland at the 2022 World Cup.
Despite only making his senior international debut in June 2022, Kiwior played every minute of Poland's Group C campaign, seeing them through to the last 16 before playing 87 minutes in a last-16 defeat to France.
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Kiwior's contract with Spezia does not expire until the summer of 2025, but according to Polish outlet Meczyki, Arsenal are now on the brink of signing the young centre-back.
The report states that talks between the two clubs are at a 'very advanced' stage, and the Premier League leaders will fork out a fee of €25m (£21.9m) to sign Kiwior on a five-and-a-half year contract.
Kiwior's medical could supposedly take place in the coming days before his signing is made official, and Arsenal have beaten Juventus, Napoli and AC Milan to the defender's signature.
Kiwior, who is left-footed, will primarily provide backup and competition to Gabriel Magalhaes, but he has also been deployed as a left-back, left-wing back and defensive midfielder during his career so far.
The Poland international will likely become Arsenal's second signing of the January window, as the Gunners work to get a deal for Brighton & Hove Albion's Leandro Trossard over the line.
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The Belgian attacker is understood to have completed his medical at London Colney on Friday morning after Arsenal agreed a £26m deal with Brighton, paying £21m upfront and a further £5m in add-ons.
However, Trossard would have to have been registered by 12pm to be eligible to make his debut against Manchester United this weekend, and it is unknown if Arsenal managed to file the necessary paperwork in time.
Arsenal are also being tipped to sign a new midfielder and right-back before the transfer window closes and have been heavily linked with a move for Real Valladolid defender Ivan Fresneda.
The Gunners are supposedly facing competition from as many as 15 different clubs to sign the 18-year-old, though, including Liverpool and Newcastle United.
Arteta's side hold a five-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table with a game in hand, and they will go 11 clear of Man United with victory on Sunday afternoon.
Ben Knapton
