There are a few examples brothers playing alongside each other in the Premier League era. Gary and Phil Neville at Manchester United, for example. Ditto the Brazilian twins Rafael and Fabio da Silva.
Jordan and Andre Ayew, meanwhile, shared a dressing room at Swansea City. And when Manchester City signed Yaya Toure from Barcelona back in 2010, the former Barcelona midfielder found himself reunited with his elder sibling Kolo.
Almost a year on from Jurrien Timber’s £38 million arrival at Arsenal, meanwhile, HITC Football understands that Quinten Timber could also be on his way to England. There is interest from Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur in the buccaneering Dutch midfielder, who could make his senior Oranje debut against Germany tonight.
Tottenham and Newcastle eye Quinten Timber?
Arne Slot, who coaches Timber at the reigning Eredivisie champions Feyenoord, will not be surprised to see the line-breaking midfielder attract interest from abroad, considering the speed of his development over the last 18 months or so.
But how why can Quinten Timber fly? Can he follow in Jurrien’s footsteps with a move, not only to England, but to Arsenal?
“If he continues to develop as he has this year, then his ceiling is extremely high,” Slot tells Rondo on Ziggo Sport. “Because he has undergone great development over the past year. He is a special player.
“He has the strength and speed to create an overload in midfield. I think he has a very good mentality and is a good lad.
“(Quinten and Jurrien) are both very, very good. I don’t think it is ruled out that Quinten could also go to a club of (Arsenal’s) calibre.”
It would be a stretch to suggest Quinten Timber could be Arsenal’s ‘new Granit Xhaka’ if he was to end up at the Emirates. But, driving forward from the left of a midfield three and bursting into the penalty area while controlling the tempo from the centre of the park, Timber could certainly fill a Xhaka-like role in Mikel Arteta’s system, there being space at Arsenal for a new midfielder with Thomas Partey and Jorginho facing uncertain futures.
The Gunners could also sell Albert Sambi Lokonga after a loan spell at Luton Town.
Timber, meanwhile, has seven goals and seven assists this season. Comfortably more than he managed during Feyenoord’s title-winning campaign in 2022/23.
Could Arsenal target Jurrien’s twin brother?
“This boy is doing fantastic,” Dutch icon Wesley Sneijder tells Vandaag Inside of Timber following the Feyenoord star’s first ever call-up to the senior squad.
“We can be happy that he is there. And I think (Netherlands boss Ronald) Koeman shares my opinion.
“He can win balls. He conquers all the balls and is everywhere (on the pitch). Defensive, offensive, and he’s getting fitter. He will now also give through balls and can shoot fantastically. As far as I’m concerned, he (should be) a starter (for the Netherlands).
“I think Koeman is also a fan.”