Arsenal s defense updates, Kiviol s stay and stay is uncertain, and he has started to contact Rennes new star Yakai

There are new trends in the Arsenal transfer market, and the future of Polish international Yakub Kiviol is undecided, and the club has made preliminary contact with Rennes' 20-year-old central defender Jeremy Yakai. These two defense lines have become the key focus of the Gunners' later adjustments in the summer window.

Kiviore is in a delicate situation, and many teams are eyeing him

Although coach Mikel Arteta tends to keep Kiviol, the players' pursuit of playing time has cast uncertainty on his future. Kiviol played 30 games in various competitions last season (21 starts), and performed outstandingly during Gabriel's injury, proving that he has the competitiveness of the Premier League and Champions League levels.

Arsenal rejected the Portuguese team's offer in July, showing the importance it attaches to the players. However, as new player Christian Mosquera joins intensify competition on the defensive line, the 25-year-old Kiviol hopes to get a stable starting position. Several European clubs are closely following their trends, and if players insist on leaving the team, the Gunners may be forced to reassess their position before closing the window.

Arsenal locked in its potential target, and Yakai entered the field of vision

In order to deal with potential personnel changes, Arsenal turned its attention to Ligue 1 star Jeremy Yakai. According to well-known journalist Fabrizio Romano, the club has made preliminary contact with Rennes to discuss the possibility of a transfer. The 1.9-meter-tall French U21 international has made its mark this season. Although it has only made 12 first-team appearances, it has entered the giants' observation list with its outstanding confrontation (62% success rate) and passing vision.

Technical analysis shows that Yakai's style is close to William Saliba and has the ability to take the ball as a modern center back, but the position selection and risk-taking tendencies still need to be polished. Rennes attaches great importance to him and has just renewed his contract until 2029 in May, and the transfer negotiations may face resistance. Arsenal regards Yake as the goal of the "dual-track plan": if Kiviol leaves this summer, the introduction will be accelerated; otherwise, it may be postponed to take action again in 2026.

Defense line chess game is about to be made

Arsenal transfer team faces a dual task: it is necessary to convince Kiviol to accept the rotation role, and to weigh the timing and cost of Yakai's trade. The club does not rule out the use of the "sign first and rent" model to operate Yakai's transfer, which is similar to Saliba's training path back then.

As the summer window closes, the final direction of the defense adjustment will depend on Kiviol's personal decision and market quotation. While ensuring the depth of the lineup, the Gunners are laying out key pieces for the future.