Arsenal prospects Omar Rekik and Mika Biereth close in on Eredivisie loans
Arsenal prospects Omar Rekik and Mika Biereth are close to securing loan moves to the Eredivisie next season, The Athletic understands. Rekik, a 20-year-old centre-back, is expected to join Sparta Rotterdam, with the expectation that regular football will help him ahead of the World Cup with Tunisia. Biereth, a 19-year-old Danish youth international, is set for RKC Waalwijk. The plan is for the striker to spend a year in the Netherlands ahead of a potential loan in England in 2023-24. Both players were regular starters for Arsenal Under-23s last season. Biereth scored 11 goals in 21 appearances in Premier League 2, while Rekik made 14 starts in the same competition — also making his Tunisia debut. The loan moves signal a degree of turnover in Arsenal’s Under-23 side, with head coach Kevin Betsy leaving the role to take charge at Crawley Town earlier this month. Arsenal see these loan moves as a way to build value in their academy products — whether preparing them for first-team action, or by raising the price-tag for a sale in the coming seasons. Last year, Waalwijk finished 10th in the Eredivisie, while Rotterdam finished 14th. (Photo: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Salomon Kalou reacts as Arsenal player confirms loan exit with Instagram post
Omar Rekik has confirmed on Instagram that he has left Arsenal to join Eredivisie side Sparta Rotterdam for the entire 2022-23 campaign – Chelsea icon Salomon Kalou has responded on the social media post. Rekik, 20, joined Arsenal in January 2021 from German side Hertha Berlin – where he was in the academy and then B-team. At the same time, his elder brother Karim, and Kalou, were playing for the senior side. Maguire Makes The MOST Overpriced Premier League XI BridTV 10524 Maguire Makes The MOST Overpriced Premier League XI 1036370 1036370 center 13872 A three-time the Tunisia international, Rekik has played 17 times for Arsenal’s Under-23 side but is yet to break into Mikel Arteta’s senior outfit. There is potential to do so, though, and he is looking to show that out on loan. He joins a Sparta side that avoided a relegation scrap last season with a solid 14th-placed finish in the top tier of Dutch football. Rekik will be hoping to showcase his talent at a decent level, against the likes of Ajax and PSV. This content could not be loaded See more Rekik needed to leave on loan. While Arsenal do lack a bit of depth at centre-back, the chances are Arteta would play a more-senior player out of position before calling on Rekik to fill a gap. Pablo Mari has returned from a loan at Udinese, while Rob Holding remains at the club. Gabriel and Ben White are first choice. Rekik needs minutes and going out on loan can now show Arsenal what he is all about. He is likely to be first choice at Sparta – and it is a move that Kalou, a former teammate of Rekik and his elder brother, has described as “very beautiful”. In other news, Report: Arsenal willing to include 24-year-old in deal to sign £100m-rated striker
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