Premier League rivals Arsenal and Crystal Palace could lock horns as they gear up to enter a bidding war for the same player. As per reports from Sport Witness, the Gunners and the Eagles are eyeing a move for Red Star Belgrade defender Nasser Djiga, with both clubs keen to add defensive reinforcements. The report further adds that Wolverhampton Wanderers (Wolves) are also outsiders in this saga.
Having come through the ranks at Dutch club Vitesse, he made his senior debut for them in 2019 and quickly gained acclaim for his tall frame and composed gameplay. FC Basel signed Djiga in 2021 and he spent three years at the club, including loan spells to Nimes and Red Star Belgrade, whom he eventually joined permanently in 2024.
Nasser Djiga has made a decent impact with Red Star, making 54 appearances for the club across competitions, scoring three goals and providing two assists as well. Aged 22 currently, the player could use this momentum to propel himself into a bigger club to progress his career.
Would Djiga choose Arsenal over Palace?
Arsenal have become a defensive force to be reckoned with in their last few years under Mikel Arteta, with the club currently having a stacked defensive unit. The addition of Riccardo Calafiori as well as Jurrien Timber’s return from injury has seen the number of defenders grow even more, which has led to a lot of competition for places within the squad.
As a result, any new player being linked with the club would be deterred by the competition for spots, with a starting berth nearly impossible to earn as Arteta has his four favourites firmly fixed in his mind. This could tempt the player to explore options of moving to either Crystal Palace or Wolves. Both clubs have ample scope for rotation among defenders, and could use an extra pair of legs in their squads as well.
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Red Star will also demand a fee that would be well within the reach of Wolves or Palace, and it remains to be seen how this saga pans out.
