Manager laughs at reports linking Arsenal to his £13m and £16m stars
RB Leipzig manager Marco Rose is increasingly frustrated by the ongoing transfer speculation as Benjamin Henrichs and Mohamed Simakan are reported targets for Premier League giants Arsenal.
Shortly after Dani Olmo’s hat-trick in the German Super Cup against Harry Kane’s Bayern Munich, reports hit the headlines linking the lithe Spain international with a move from the Red Bull Arena.
Leipzig have already lost Josko Gvardiol, Dominik Szoboszlai and Christopher Nkunku to Premier League clubs (Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea) this summer. And Olmo is the latest in a long line of Red Bull stars to feature in the gossip columns.
Arsenal are reportedly big fans of defensive duo Mohamed Simakan and Benjamin Henrichs. Gunners boss Mikel Arteta also poured a gallon of petrol on the pyre of speculation this week when he hinted Arsenal could make a move for another defender after losing Jurrien Timber to a long-term injury.
Arsenal could try to attack RB Leipzig
For Rose, however, the window can’t be closed fast enough.
“Simakan to Arsenal. Olmo Man City. Who else do we have? I think (Benjamin) Sesko is already dissatisfied and wants to go to Inter Milan. “Benni (Henrichs) should go to Arsenal,” grins Rose transfer market.
“What should the people believe and what not?”
Henrichs and Simakan both came to Leipzig from Ligue 1 clubs. The latter arrived in a £13m deal from Monaco, while the former repaid the Bundesliga giants a further £16m after making a name for himself in Strasbourg.
Timber, meanwhile, is unlikely to miss until spring 2024 after being substituted in Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
“The injury he has is a huge blow,” Arteta says via talkSPORT. “It’s (a big setback) for the team because we recruited him with clear intentions and it was obvious what he brings to the team. And he won’t be able to do that for us this season.
“We have to adapt. Unfortunately, these things happen and we have to move on.
“We are always open (for replacements). We also have to be open to the injuries, but also react to the market.”
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