Arsenal lead Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in the race for Porto right-back Ricardo Pereira, according to reports this morning.
TEAMtalk cite Portuguese outlet A Bola in saying that Arsenal scouts watched the defender in action at the weekend and the Gunners are prepared to meet his buy-out clause of £17.5m.
The 24-year-old has been a regular for his side in all competitions this season, making 37 appearances in total, including six in the Champions League.
Pereira could be seen as a replacement for Hector Bellerin, who is courting interest from a number of clubs despite his indifferent from this campaign.
Tottenham are believed to have had a bid of just over £13m for the player rejected last summer, and instead signed Serge Aurier from Paris Saint-Germain.
However, boss Mauricio Pochettino is still keen on the full-back and could make another move this year, despite having Aurier and Kieran Tripper on the books.
As for Manchester United, Jose Mourinho is set to lose Matteo Darmian to Juventus this summer and will be in need of defensive cover.
Leicester City are also prepared to meet the 24-year-old’s buy out clause and they’d likely be albe to offer him a guarenteed staring place in their first XI.
