Arsenal could now fight Manchester United over the transfer of Charles De Ketelaere in 2024 after seeing the AC Milan flop revive his career in Italy on loan to Atalanta BC.
That is according to Calciomercato.it, which reports that De Ketelaere has begun to generate interest from Arsenal and Manchester United. The Premier League rivals are keeping tabs on the 22-year-old’s form at La Dea. But they are not alone with Newcastle United also on alert.
De Ketelaere has appeared a man reborn since leaving San Siro this summer to join Atalanta on loan. The Belgian endured a turbulent campaign after leaving Club Brugge for AC Milan in August 2022 for €32m (£28m). He can end up costing a further €3m (£2.5m) with add-ons.
Arsenal eye De Ketelaere’s transfer after shining at Atalanta
AC Milan never saw the best of the player during the 13-cap Belgium international’s time at the Rossoneri. De Ketelaere, who Claudio Ranieri has called ‘practical, elegant [and] incisive’, played 40 times in red-and-black. Yet he never scored and offered them just a single assist.
Gian Piero Gasperini has recaptured the talents that De Ketelaere showed with Club Brugge, though. From 318 minutes of action across five games at Atalanta, the playmaker has scored twice and laid on an assist. De Ketelaere has started three of his outings, with two in Serie A.
Should he maintain his early promise, La Dea will consider buying him via the €30m (£26m) option in their loan. Yet Atalanta may not keep De Ketelaere for long after that with Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle already showing interest in securing his transfer in 2024.
Atalanta would no doubt demand a profit on their investment to sell the Belgian. AC Milan are also guaranteed 10% of any future transfer fee. But Arsenal admired what De Ketelaere gave Club Brugge, where he emerged as an academy product to score 25 goals over 120 games.
Arsenal liked the AC Milan flop while he was at Club Brugge
The Gunners are long-term admirers of the Belgian and sought his services before AC Milan secured his signature. CalcioMercatoWeb reported in July 2022 that Arsenal and Lyon were fighting the Rossoneri for De Ketelaere’s transfer. But they would not secure the deal then.
Leeds United are also long-term admirers of the playmaker. Fabrizio Romano claimed in July 2022 that the Elland Road outfit offered Club Brugge more than €35m (£30.5m). The Whites and Burnley even asked AC Milan about a loan move this summer, Le Soir reported this May.
But rather than playing in the Championship with Leeds this season, De Ketelaere moved to Atalanta in August. There, the Bruges natives’ efforts have brought Arsenal back to the shop floor. Manchester United and Newcastle are also watching his resurgence at La Dea in awe.
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