Arsenal star Jurrien Timber sends two-word message as transfer confirmed

Jurrien Timber has responded to Ajax's latest transfer which has seen the Arsenal full-back's childhood friend Kenneth Taylor depart the Dutch club

Arsenal star Jurrien Timber has sent a message to former Ajax team-mate Kenneth Taylor after his transfer to Lazio was confirmed.

The duo played over 100 matches alongside each other having come up through the Ajax academy together before both making it to the senior team.

Timber departed for Emirates Stadium in the summer of 2023 while Taylor remained in the Netherlands and has thus endured a turbulent few years.

Ajax lost last season's Eredivisie title in heart-breaking fashion and are currently third in the table, but 16 points behind leaders PSV.

Taylor has made 19 appearances in all competitions, but will make no more for Ajax as he has been sold to Lazio. The Serie A side have agreed to pay €16.9million (£14.4m) for his services with Timber sending a clear message.

Via Instagram stories, in response to Ajax's post wishing Taylor well which included a photo of him and Timber, the Gunners defender said: "Goodluck broski [red heart emoji]."

Ajax also released an emotional statement upon his departure, with heartfelt comments from Director of Football Marijn Beuker.

He said: "Kenneth is a true Ajacied who progressed from our youth academy to the first team at a young age and is therefore an example for our current youth players. He has developed into a regular member of the midfield and has made an important contribution to our sporting performances in recent years.

"Kenneth would like to take the next step in his career, and we are happy to grant him that opportunity. We have therefore thanked him for his efforts and wished him every success in Italy."

The latest update on Timber's future meanwhile, is that the club are keen to extend his and Declan Rice's contract, as football.london have reported.

Arsenal have already agreed on a new contract with Bukayo Saka which will extend his stay at Emirates Stadium to 2031. That follows William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly penning fresh terms.

The Times have revealed that contract talks have also been planned for Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, David Raya and Mikel Merino with that quartet seeing their current deals end in the summer of 2028.

That is likely to be the priority for Arsenal even in the January transfer window with no signings in the works following a significant £250million spend this past summer.

Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi has emerged as a transfer target but that is more likely to be for the summer if he does not join Manchester City this month. Oliver Glasner has since issued an update on his immediate future.

"I'm not naive. If a massive offer comes from City and Marc wants to do it, it will happen. If you're just valuing sports, everyone in the club will say Marc has to stay.

"The chairman will tell you the same. But it's not one-dimensional. If you see the financial situation, it's very important.

"If somebody comes, there will be a moment when the club says 'now the financial issue is more important than the sports issue'.

"There will be a threshold where the club has to say it will happen - as long as Marc says 'I want to leave', because the final decision is always with the player."