Brighton and Newcastle both reportedly want to sign Carl Jenkinson from Arsenal this summer.
- Jenks returned from injury with confidence in tatters
- Dropped from senior squad in December
- Newly promoted Brighton want him to bolster squad
- Newcastle also interested
- Crystal Palace move fell through in winter
Jenks has had a tough season. Although he recovered from a long-term knee injury he suffered while on loan at West Ham, his confidence had dropped terribly from months on the sidelines and he struggled for game time.
The defender has only played a total of 408 minutes over five appearances in all competitions since recovering. Only two of these appearances have been for a full 90 minutes.
With his confidence in tatters, Arsene Wenger removed him from the squad until he could return to normal. Not just physically but mentally as well.
“He has lost confidence,” Wenger said back in December.
“The Jenkinson you see at the moment is the Jenkinson who can play but is not completely Jenkinson because he has no confidence. That will come back. He will be in and out and, suddenly, after one or two months, he will make the step and play.
“It is natural and very difficult. Today it is even more difficult because he gets quickly hammered by everybody on social media. I hope he doesn’t read all that and focuses on his game.”
However, despite featuring six times for the reserves, he’s failed to make an appearance for the senior team since.
It seems that Arsenal will be looking to offload Jenks, who is a life-long Gooner, this summer with newly promoted Brighton, and Newcastle, both reportedly willing to take him off Wenger’s hands.
The defender was supposed to go to Crystal Palace during the winter transfer window but it seems this fell through, allegedly because of wages.
The 25-year-old’s contract runs out next year.