Arsenal have reportedly submitted a bid of £30million for Ajax defender Jurrien Timber as Mikel Arteta looks to add depth to his defensive ranks. The offer is said to have fallen short of the Eredivisie outfit’s asking price though there is ‘optimism’ that a deal will be reached.

The Gunners paid the price for their lack of depth in defence last season which played a major role in Manchester City pipping them to the Premier League title. But Arteta is keen to rectify the issue as soon as possible by adding a versatile defender to his ranks.

According to The Athletic, Arsenal are ‘working on a deal’ for Ajax star Timber and are hopeful that they will strike a deal for his services. They have submitted a bid of approximately £30m for the services of the 22-year-old, which falls short of the defender’s asking price of £50m.

Talks are expected to continue between the two clubs as a result, though all parties are ‘optimistic’ that a deal will be agreed upon. Personal terms are ‘in place’ and Timber is also keen to make the move to the Emirates Stadium.