Arsenal transfer news: Out-of-favour defender set to leave on loan in January?

The Polish international joined Arsenal from Italian side Spezia on a five-and-a-half year deal back in January 2023, but has never become a regular for the club.

Kiwior has made 26 starts for the Gunners since joining almost two years ago, but only two of those have come this season, and they were both in the EFL Cup to lower-league opponents Bolton Wanderers and Preston North End.

Increased opportunities came Kiwior's way last season due to injuries concerning Jurrien Timber, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Oleksandr Zinchenko.

Tomiyasu's injury worries have continued into this season, but with Timber back, and the arrival of Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna, Kiwior has fallen down the pecking order.

Kiwior set to leave the Emirates?

Signed as a centre-back who could also play as a holding midfielder, there was little chance Kiwior was going to threaten the places of William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes or Declan Rice, who together put up the best defensive numbers in the Premier League last season.

As a versatile player though, having played on the left of a back three both at Spezia and with the Poland national team, Kiwior was able to fill in at left-back when required for Mikel Arteta last season.

With Arsenal chasing an elusive Premier League title though, reinforcements were made over the summer, pushing the 24-year-old down the pecking order.

Therefore, Football Insider claim that Arsenal are willing to sell the player in January, preferably on a permanent basis.

The difficulties in doing business during the winter window could be a stumbling block though, with club pursestrings often tighter midway through a campaign.

Where might Kiwior venture for pastures new?

After joining Anderlecht from his native Poland as a youngster, Kiwior then moved onto Slovakia, before eventually making his big breakthrough with Spezia when they were a Serie A club under current Juventus boss Thiago Motta.

Kiwior had only played with the Aquilotti for 18 months before Arsenal decided to part ways with £21m to bring the defender to the Emirates.

However, a swift return to the Italian top flight could be in store for the Polish international, with former manager Motta believed to be one of the managers interested, potentially renewing acquaintances at Juventus.

The report states that rivals AC Milan and Inter Milan are in the market for Kiwior too, along with Spanish clubs Villarreal and Sevilla.

However, with finances much tighter for clubs outside the Premier League, it is unlikely those clubs will be able to meet Arsenal's valuation in January, so a loan with an option-to-buy clause inserted could be the only possible agreement.