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Arsenal are marching towards a long-awaited Premier League title, with Mikel Arteta’s side looking like they could finally be the finished product after seasons of steady squad building and big-money investment.
Yet behind the scenes, there are growing suggestions that the Gunners will have to make at least one painful decision this summer to stay on the right side of PSR, particularly after committing serious funds in recent windows on the likes of Piero Hincapie and other high-profile targets in attacking areas such as Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke.
The sense in North London is that a senior star may have to be sacrificed to balance the books and create room for another wave of recruitment.
Despite that looming reality, Arsenal’s summer plans are clearly not on hold. According to L’Equipe, relayed by Sport Witness, the club have now initiated talks to sign RB Leipzig defender Castello Lukeba.
Lukeba, a left-footed France international who came through Lyon’s academy before joining Leipzig in August 2023, has already racked up 95 appearances for the Bundesliga side and is viewed as one of the most promising centre-backs of his age group. He is understood to be eyeing a summer exit, with the Premier League and La Liga his preferred destinations, and Leipzig are now believed to be open to a sale in the €60–70m range.
For Liverpool fans, Lukeba is a familiar name. The Frenchman has been linked to Liverpool on and off for the last two years, with his athleticism, comfort on the ball and versatility made him a natural fit for the type of profile Liverpool’s recruitment department tends to admire.
The 23-year-old has been on plenty of shortlists, and Liverpool’s interest has seemingly never gone beyond scouting and admiration rather than an active push to sign him, especially with other defensive priorities and a new sporting structure still bedding in.
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