West Ham United are desperate to improve their squad with the signing of a new centre back and this has prompted the club to make a loan bid for Arsenal defender Rob Holding.
TalkSports confirmed that the Hammers have offered a loan fee of £5m to Arsenal in exchange for Rob Holding spending this season on loan at the club.
Rob Holding was the subject of a loan bid from Newcastle United at the start of this month and was close to joining them before Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta pulled the plug on the loan deal.
Arteta told the player that he wants to count on him for the new season, and the 24-year-old repaid the manager’s faith in him with his performances in both the Community Shield and the opening Premier League game of the season.
The ex-Bolton Wanderers’ centre back was part of the Arsenal side that beat Liverpool on penalties in the Community Shield last month. The Gunners won the first trophy of the season by beating Liverpool 5-4 on penalties after the two teams had drawn 1-1 in regulation time.
Rob Holding also helped the Gunners keep a clean sheet in their Premier League opener, a 3-0 away win over London rivals Fulham.