Philippe Senderos thinks £50m Arsenal target actually has ‘tremendous potential’

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Whilst Arsenal continue to push for a big end to the season on the pitch, new sporting director Andrea Berta is seemingly laying the foundations for a successful summer off of it, too.

Berta has immediately gone to work at Arsenal trying to establish contact with Mikel Arteta’s top targets, as well as finding alternatives to those who may not be available.

And whilst Arsenal want a new striker and a new left-sided winger too, there’s also an understated situation to sort out at the back.

Regardless of the chances he may get before the end of the season, Jakub Kiwior wants to leave Arsenal to become a regular starter elsewhere, potentially back in Italy.

And in addition to Kieran Tierney who’s already agreed to return to Celtic, Oleksandr Zinchenko might leave Arsenal too.

Phillipe Senderos praises Dean Huijsen

One of the solutions to Arsenal’s departures could be the signing of Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth, a young Spanish centre-back who could offer Arteta cover on both sides of his centre-back partnership.

Arsenal are interested in Huijsen among a host of Europe’s top clubs, a centre-back with a £50m release clause by all accounts.

READ MORE: David Raya says £20m Arsenal player has actually been unbelievable in training recently

That being said, former Arsenal centre-back Philippe Senderos was asked about Huijsen’s ability when speaking to AS recently. 

Senderos wasn’t specifically asked about Huijsen joining Arsenal, but he still didn’t stop short of praising the towering 20-year-old.

Senderos said: “I’ve been following him for many years, ever since he was at Juventus. I think he has tremendous potential and the ability to adapt to any type of playing system.

“His performance in England has been excellent, and that’s a great testament to his quality.

“That’s why he’s made it to the national team.”

Mikel Arteta’s plan for Dean Huijsen

Of course, some Arsenal fans might wonder how a centre-back of Huijsen’s quality would fit in Arteta’s current squad.

Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba boast one of the best centre-back partnerships in world football, one that very few defenders could disrupt.

But according to The Athletic, Huijsen would be intended to simply supplement that partnership rather than to replace either part.

Saliba’s future at Arsenal has been a hot topic recently amid links to Real Madrid.

However, Huijsen’s arrival would not be at all related — if anything the youngster would be there to learn and grow alongside Saliba.