Arsenal still chasing ‘explosive’ 19-year-old despite contract setback

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Arsenal are keen to sign Michael Kayode.

According to 90min, Arsenal remain interested in signing Fiorentina defender Michael Kayode, despite the 19-year-old having recently signed a new long-term contract with the Serie A outfit.

Fiorentina confirmed yesterday, via their official website, that Kayode has now penned a new deal with the club which will last until 2028.

Of course, this is a blow to the Gunners’ ambitions of securing the teenage full-back’s services. Though, it seems, the north London club are not yet ready to give up on the chase, despite this setback.

Arsenal have been scouting Kayode for a number of weeks, but they aren’t alone in keeping tabs on the youngster, either. As per the aforementioned report, Manchester United and Manchester City are both also monitoring the Italy under-21 international.

It is unsurprising that the right-back is generating such a high degree of interest. He has previously been called an “explosive” player by Italian publication tuttomercatoweb.

Impressively, given his tender age, Kayode is already establishing himself as a key player at Fiorentina. He has featured in six of the club’s nine league matches so far this season and looks to be improving rapidly.

Ruthless Mikel Arteta won’t hesitate to bring in Michael Kayode

There is no great urgency to bolster the full-back contingent at Arsenal. Ben White is trusted to start week in, week out on the right hand side, whilst Oleksandr Zinchenko is in a battle to keep his regular starting place on the left, with fans now calling for Takehiro Tomiyasu to be given a run in the side. 

Jakub Kiwior is another back up option that Mikel Arteta can call upon, and Jurrien Timber will be competing for minutes once he returns to full fitness.

Despite having these options at his disposal, Arteta won’t hesitate to strike a deal for Kayode if there is a possibility of an agreement being reached. He has already shown that he is willing to be ruthless in seeking to upgrade his squad. How big a dent the player’s new contract puts in Arsenal’s hopes of signing Kayode remains to be seen.