REPORT – Arsenal ‘Weighing Up’ Approach For Belgian International With Arteta A ‘Big Admirer’

Arsenal are “weighing up” a potential move for Atalanta attacking midfielder Charles De Ketelaere, according to Caught Offside.

The website claims that the Gunners are keeping tabs on the Belgian international along with several other Premier League clubs.


It is believed that Manchester City, West Ham, Tottenham and Newcastle have also been watching De Ketelaere, who was one of Atalanta’s key players as they won the Europa League last season.

Caught Offside report that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is a “big admirer” of the 23-year-old’s abilities and that could lead to the London club making an approach in January or at the end of the campaign.

What do fans need to know about De Ketelaere?

The Belgian came through the academy at Club Brugge before AC Milan spent a Belgian record fee (€35m) on the player. However, things didn’t work out for him at the San Siro.

De Ketelaere struggled to make an impact and he didn’t score or provide an assist during his 40 appearances for the Rossoneri.

Atalanta took a chance on the player, signing him on loan with an obligation to buy at the start of last season. The gamble paid off as he scored 14 goals and contributed 11 assists in 50 appearances. Things haven’t been going as well for him this campaign (with just 1 goal and 1 assist to his name) but he is still attracting a lot of interest from the Premier League.

Arsenal need cover for Odegaard

With Fabio Vieira having been loaned back to Porto after failing to impress at the Emirates, and Kai Havertz having put in his best performances for the club as a striker, the Gunners could do with another attacking midfielder.

Captain Martin Odegaard is currently sidelined with an ankle injury and his absence is keenly felt, so signing someone like De Ketelaere who possesses similar qualities would make a lot of sense.

Find out who is in Arsenal’s first-team squad for the 2024/2025 season here

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David Tully

David Tully

David has worked as a football reporter for the last fifteen years. Having started as an intern at Snack Media, he then went on to become a freelancer, working on various different sites. At the start of 2023, he took up his current role as content writer for National World's Football News Network.