Besiktas make €2.5m bid for Arsenal defender Rob Holding

Rob Holding
By David Ornstein
Jul 13, 2023

Besiktas have made a €2.5million offer for Arsenal defender Rob Holding.

Arsenal are expected to reject the bid from the Turkish side.

Holding’s Arsenal contract runs until 2024 with the option of a further year.

Holding made 14 Premier League appearances for Arsenal last season, coming into the side in March following an injury to William Saliba.

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The 27-year-old centre-back joined Arsenal from Bolton in 2016 and has gone on to win two FA Cups during his time in north London.

Holding was not included in the Arsenal squad for Thursday’s pre-season friendly against Nurnberg, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Besiktas meanwhile are close to reaching an agreement to sign Daniel Amartey on a three-year deal as they continue to look to bring in defensive reinforcements.

Amartey is a free agent following the expiry of his Leicester City contract in June.

The 28-year-old made 20 Premier League appearances last season as Leicester were relegated to the Championship on the final day of the season.

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(Photo: Michael Regan/Getty Images)

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David Ornstein

David Ornstein joined The Athletic in October 2019 after 12 years as a sports journalist and correspondent at the BBC. In the role of Football Correspondent, he is responsible for producing exclusive and original stories and interviews, offering unique insight and analysis. He works across video, audio and the written word. Follow David on Twitter @David_Ornstein