Arsenal have rejected an opening offer from Besiktas for the transfer of Rob Holding, according to a report.
David Ornstein reports for The Athletic that Besiktas have submitted an offer to sign Rob Holding worth €2.5m (£2.14m), but this is far below what Arsenal might consider to sell the defender.
Arsenal will reject the bid, with Holding still having a year left on his contract and an option to extend to 2025.
Holding missed out on Arsenal’s friendly against FC Nurnberg on Thursday, though this is believed to be related to injury, not a transfer.
Reports suggest Holding was suffering from muscle tightness ahead of the game, and he was left out as a precautionary measure.
Ed Aarons of The Guardian claimed this week that Holding is expected to leave Arsenal this summer, either permanently or on loan.
But at just over £2m, you can see why the Gunners aren’t keen to accept the offer from Besiktas.
That’s roughly the same as Arsenal bought Holding for, when he was a Bolton Wanderers 20-year-old.
Now in his peak years and after seven more years of inflation, you’d expect the defender to be worth more.
Don’t hold out too much hope for a much bigger bid from Besiktas, though.
The Super Lig side have never spent more than €8m (£6.85m) on a single player, so it’s very unlikely they’ll suddenly up their bid into the tens of millions.
Arsenal will probably hold out for offers from richer bidders, having already earned £6m for the sale of Pablo Mari this summer.