Multiple sources claim a loan deal for right back Carl Jenkinson appears to have taken a step closer after the Gooners signed Calum Chambers from Southampton.
Arsenal recently rejected a £3m bid from Hull City valuing him at £5m and it is also claimed the player wants to remain in London. It is understood that talks to conclude the loan deal with West Ham which includes an option to buy is continuing today with a decision expected soon.
Jenkinson is a product of the Charlton youth academy who was loaned Conference South side Welling United on loan in early 2010 before starting a three-month loan with Conference Premier side Eastbourne Borough in late 2010. He made his first appearance for Charlton Athletic in the Football League Trophy Southern Section semi-final clash with Brentford at Griffin Park in December 2010, playing the whole match in the right-back position. Jenkinson signed for Arsenal in June 2011, for a fee thought to be around £1 million.
In August 2011, Jenkinson made his Arsenal competitive debut in the final qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League against Udinese, coming on as a second half substitute, replacing the injured Johan Djourou early in the second half. Jenkinson made his Premier League debut against Liverpool also in August 2011, starting at right-back. He kept his place in the team, playing in the second leg against Udinese and then at Old Trafford against Manchester United in the Premier League, although he was sent off later in the game for a foul on Javier Hernández. He also assisted Robin van Persie to score Arsenal’s second in the game in a 8–2 loss against Manchester United.
Jenkinson suffered a stress fracture in his lower back which kept him out for 3 months.
Due to an injury to first choice right back, Bacary Sagna, Jenkinson started the first five matches of the 2012–13 season, and earned plaudits for his performance against Manchester City, among others. Jenkinson featured in all three of Arsenal’s opening games of the 2013–14 campaign as injuries to defenders Thomas Vermaelen and Laurent Koscielny forced Bacary Sagna to fill in at centre-back and Jenkinson to deputise at right-back. Despite Koscielny later returning, Jenkinson kept his place in the first-team after impressing against Fenerbahçe S.K. In May 2014 Jenkinson scored his first senior team goal for Arsenal in their 2-0 victory over Norwich City on the last day of the 2013-14 season.