Bayern Munich look to ‘spoil Arsenal’s plans for Ajax defender Jurrien Timber’

Bayern Munich may be drawn into another transfer scrap with Arsenal as they vye to win the signature of Ajax defender Jurrien Timber, according to reports. 

Thomas Tuchel’s side were considered the strongest rivals for Arsenal’s No 1 transfer target Declan Rice, with the former Chelsea head coach offering to build his midfield around the West Ham captain and having a number of discussions with the player. 

Rice is believed to be heading for the Emirates after the Gunners tabled an improved £90million bid for the midfielder, which could rise to as high as £100m with add-ons. 

But the Bundesliga giants may be quicker of the mark securing the second of Arsenal’s transfer priorities. 

As per ESPN, the German champions are set to pounce for the centre back after Arsenal’s opening offer for Timber was rejected. 

Bayern Munich could pounce for Jurrien Timber after Arsenal’s opening offer was rejected

Thomas Tuchel (left) dropped out of the race for Declan Rice but could yet beat Mikel Arteta (right) to the punch for the Ajax defender

Mail Sport revealed that Mikel Arteta’s side had opened with a bid of £30m for Timber, but were swiftly rebuffed by Ajax, who believe the player is worth closer to £50m. 

Timber, 22, has been at the club since 2014 and impressed whilst rising through the youth ranks at his boyhood club. 

After he was awarded his club’s Marco van Basten Award for Talent of the Year, and Eredivisie Player of the Year at the end of the 2021-22 season, the defender looked to be set to join his former coach Erik ten Hag and make a move to Manchester United. 

But Timber later snubbed the Red Devils, choosing to stay on at Ajax for another season – although his interest in moving away from the Dutch league has been reignited ahead of the summer transfer window. 

Keen to make a number of new recruits this summer, Arsenal will look to snap up Timber for as competitive a price as possible, particularly when the proposed club-record bid for Rice is taken into account. 

As well as Timber and Rice, Arsenal are pursuing Chelsea’s Kai Havertz – who the club are set to offer a fee totalling £60m for – and Southampton’s Romeo Lavia. 

Expected to leave the Emirates are Rob Holding, Kiernan Tierney, Granit Xhaka, and talented youngster Folarin Balogun, who will only consider staying at his boyhood club if assured of playing time. 

Ryan Gravenberch’s 2022 move to Bayern could disuade his former team-mate after his struggle for playing time

Gravenberch and Timber (left-right) featured under then-coach Erik ten Hag in Amsterdam

The club are also willing to entertain offers for midfielder Thomas Partey. 

Should Timber consider Bayern’s interest seriously, he may consider the issues his former team-mate Ryan Gravenberch has undergone during his debut season in Bavaria. 

Another hotly-tipped Ajax prospect, Gravenberch made the move to Bayern in August 2022, but the midfielder has struggled for minutes under both Tuchel and his predecessor Julian Nagelsmann and failed to break into the starting XI. 

The 21-year-old has attracted the interest of Liverpool – whose summer midfield revamp was sparked by the signing of Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton – and is likely gunning for a move to see him secure regularly football.