Arsène Wenger has said that he can understand the shock at the size of the fee – £16 million in total – that Arsenal are poised to pay for Southampton teenage full-back Calum Chambers.
Chambers, 19, has agreed personal terms to move to Arsenal and has completed a medical. Wenger hopes that the defender, who has made just 18 Premier League starts, will justify the fee through his versatility.
“He can play at centre-back, right-back and central midfield,” Wenger said. “I hope he will give us competition for the players in this three positions. He hasn’t played many games, no, but the English players on the market in England are very expensive and at the end of the day I was ready to take a gamble because he is a player for the future.”
Chambers is the third Southampton youngster to have been snapped up by Wenger, following Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Arsenal have signed Mathieu Debuchy to replace Bacary Sagna and Chambers will act as back-up in the right-back position. He is likely to play initially in the Capital One Cup and FA Cup for Arsenal this season, and will provide stern competition for Debuchy in the Premier League.
Wenger is positive that Chambers can have a similar impact to Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain, which persuaded the Frenchman to pay such a big fee. Chambers is tipped to break into the senior England squad, with the defence one of the positions Roy Hodgson is looking to strengthen.
The arrival of Chambers may well allow Carl Jenkinson to leave Arsenal, either on loan or permanently. West Ham United are interested in the right-back.
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