According to Sky Sports, Norwich City are interested in a summer transfer for Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo, in a potential blow for Arsenal.
The Canaries have marked the arrival a centre-back as one of their main priorities after clinching promotion to the Premier League. Daniel Farke’s side won the Championship title by six points to secure an instant return to the top-flight.
Adarabioyo is among the options being assessed at Carrow Road, along with FC Koln’s Sebastiaan Bornauw. Norwich will also pay £14million to turn the loans of Burnley defender Ben Gibson and PAOK’s Dimitris Giannoulis permanent.
Norwich have watched Adarabioyo closely, which could come as a blow for Arsenal after Mikel Arteta’s side were also linked.
Reports by The Athletic claim the Gunners and Newcastle United have expressed their interest in the 23-year-old. Adarabioyo is also open to leaving Fulham after the Cottagers’ relegation.
Adarabioyo had formed a key part of Scott Parker’s side at Craven Cottage after arriving in a £1.5m Deadline Day deal in October. Fulham will pay up to £2m for the centre-half while Manchester City hold a 20 per cent sell-on clause.
The £60,000-per-week talent also has interest from Germany and can be signed through a buy-out clause in his Fulham contract.
Arteta knows Adarabioyo well from his time at Man City but Norwich’s interest could be a blow for Arsenal.
The Canaries would be expected to offer Adarabioyo a more prominent role at Carrow Road than the Gunners could at the Emirates.
Adarabioyo is unlikely to settle for anything but a key role, having started all 33 of his Premier League appearances at Fulham. He only missed one game under Parker, who was impressed by the former England U19 international.
Parker knew Fulham were signing a promising defender in Adarabioyo but feels the Manchester-born enforcer came on strongly over the season.
“I’ve seen that [City influence],” Parker said in March. “I saw him at Blackburn last year, I saw him play for the Under 23s at City, his biggest attribute was certainly with the ball.