Sources: Wolves and Crystal Palace race to sign Arsenal star Rob Holding

Arsenal defender Rob Holding is a target for Wolves, Crystal Palace and Real Betis before the close of the transfer window, sources have told Football Insider.

Holding, 27, is well down the pecking order at Arsenal and the Gunners have told him he can leave on a permanent deal before Friday’s transfer deadline.

Premier League duo Wolves and Palace have registered their interest in Holding, while Spanish outfit Betis are also in pursuit.

Arsenal are looking to balance the books and trim the squad before the transfer window closes.

Holding is one of several players who could depart, and the Gunners would prefer a sale to a loan deal.

The centre-back has entered the final year of his contract at the Emirates after joining from Bolton Wanderers in a £2m move in 2016.

He has made 162 appearances during his time at the club and has netted five goals in those outings.

But following the arrivals of Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba, Holding has fallen out of favour and has been resigned to the bench in recent seasons.

The defender was handed just 17 minutes of action before Saliba’s injury last term.

Following his teammate’s back injury, Holding played six consecutive 90-minute matches at centre-back.

Earlier this summer (21 May), Football Insider revealed that the Gunners were willing to listen to offers for the defender.

The Gunners have been willing to move on Holding for the duration of the window but he has remained at the Emirates into the start of the season.

In other news, Portsmouth and Cambridge race to sign Arsenal star.

 

 

£77,000-A-WEEK PLAYER DESPERATE TO LEAVE CRYSTAL PALACE NOW HAS AGREEMENT WITH ANOTHER CLUB

Crystal Palace goalkeeper Vicente Guaita is dying to leave Selhurst Park and return to Spain before the transfer window closes.

That is according to a report from AS.

It claims that Vicente Guaita is counting the hours until he departs Crystal Palace and that the 36-year-old has agreed to join Celta Vigo.

Guaita played 27 times for Palace in the Premier League last season, but his career at Selhurst Park now looks to be over.

The Spaniard has not been involved in any of the Eagles’ games in the new campaign, while they are also set to bring in Dean Henderson from Manchester United.

As per BBC Sport, Palace have agreed a deal with United to sign the England international.

Vicente Guaita has been a good servant to Crystal Palace

It is clear that Guaita and Palace are done with each other, to be blunt, with the former Getafe man desperate to leave the club, while they are about to sign a new goalkeeper.

Nevertheless, the south London outfit still got a lot out of the shot-stopper, who joined them back in 2018.

He has been more than a useful player for Palace, but it seems that it is now time for both parties to go their separate ways.

In terms of who is coming in to replace him, Henderson could be a great successor. He has Premier League experience and recently helped Nottingham Forest to stay in the top flight, so there are obviously much worse goalkeepers out there.

All in all, Guaita was a player who Palace valued after being a regular at Selhurst Park for five seasons. However, the £77,000-a-week (Spotrac) star is ready for a new challenge away from south London.

Going forward, then, Henderson and Sam Johnstone will be battling for the No.1 spot in Roy Hodgson’s team.