Arsenal have cooled their interest on Brighton & Hove Albion defender Lewis Dunk this summer. According to recent reports, the Seagulls centre-back had decided to opt against a move to the Emirates Stadium. It is believed that the English talent has told the Gunners that he intends to stay at the Amex Stadium amidst speculation linking him with a move to North London.
Some sources are now claiming that Dunk was a target for Arsene Wenger but his successor, Unai Emery has laid out a different plan and won’t go along in pursuit of the Brighton captain anymore. However, there are still a lot of interest from other clubs yet the Seagulls are reluctant to part ways with their captain and will refuse to sell him to any of the 12-13 top tier clubs who are effectively their competitors in their fight to avoid relegation next year.
Dunk had put in a number of impressive performances during the course of last season which have not gone unnoticed by other clubs. The 26-year-old had made 39 appearances for the Seagulls last season and has one goal and one assist to his name across all competitions.
The North London outfit had an underwhelming campaign and could only clinch a 6th placed finish in the league last season. They are in need to bring in some quality this summer under the expert guidance of Unai Emery.
The addition of Dunk would have undoubtedly bolstered Emery’s defensive options at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal have the likes of Laurent Koscielny, Shkodran Mustafi, Calum Chambers and Rob Holding competing for a place in Emery’s backline. The potential acquisition of Dunk would have improved their team significantly and added more competition for places within the Gunners squad. However, the English defender is still unproven at the top level which is why it would have been a big gamble for Arsenal to opt for his services.
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Retaining some of their top talents could go a long way in helping Brighton avoid the drop and ensure their top-flight lives for another season. Hence, Chris Hughton should keep hold of Dunk and look to build a team around him. It remains to be seen what lies ahead in the future of the Brighton-born defender and whether he ends up plying his trade away from the Amex Stadium next season.
