

Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium by Ank kumar, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Arsenal aren’t short of right-backs with Calum Chambers, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Cedric Soares at their disposal. The Gunners have such an abundance of defenders Hector Bellerin was loaned out to Real Betis in order to get first-team football, so it’s surprising they’re being linked with another right-back.
According to sports journalist and transfer expert Duncan Castles, Arsenal are ‘looking’ at Brighton & Hove Albion defender Tarik Lamptey and may have success landing his signature so long as they’re willing to match his lofty asking price – something they’re ‘exploring’.
Castles said on The Transfer Window podcast: “Arsenal had an interest in Lamptey when he burst onto the scene before that difficult injury. They are looking again to sign him and exploring the parameters of the deal.
“If (Brighton) get offers from teams attractive to the players, they will not stand in the way of the move, assuming their asking price is met.” Lamptey joined the Seagulls on a five-year-deal from Chelsea in January 2020 and has gone on to make 31 appearances in all competitions, scoring one goal with five assists.
The England U21 international has been a regular from Brighton since his move from the Blues and is highly-rated on the south coast. Lamptey could cost up to £50m, however, as his deal runs until 2025 and Brighton have no obligation to sell while the player remains happy at the Amex Stadium.
Arsenal spent £150m on Ben White (£52m from Brighton), Martin Odegaard (£31.5m from Real Madrid), Aaron Ramsdale (£25.2m from Sheffield United), Tomiyasu (£16.7m from Bologna), Sambi Lokonga (£15.7m from Anderlecht) and Nuno Tavares (£7.2m from Benfica) over the summer, but it remains to be seen whether Arsenal will give Brighton another £50m for one of their defenders.
are looking to spend such a large sum of money midway through the season remains to be seen, especially when they already have three players capable of operating in the role.
That being said, Lamptey is a talented player. He’s created 10 chances, had 13 successful dribbles, blocked eight shots/passes/crosses, been dribbled past only six times, whipped in 31 crosses and averaged a tackle (14) or interception (8) every 32 minutes in 11 Premier League games. Arsenal’s defence would be better with Lamptey in it, but will the price tag put them off?
