Mikel Arteta will be backed by the Arsenal board during the January transfer window and will prioritise a new marquee central defender.
That’s according to the Daily Mail, who claim that the Spaniard is desperate for a new addition at the back following a knee injury to Calum Chambers against Chelsea on Sunday.
The report claims that a man high on Arteta’s wishlist is RB Leipzig’s Dayot Upamecano.
The Frenchman was wanted by the Gunners over the summer and with just 18 months left on his Leipzig deal, could be available in a cut-price deal.
The figure suggested is around £40m, with Tottenham also keen on the 21-year-old.
Read Arsenal verdict
Arteta is in desperate need of defensive reinforcements, and a move for Upamecano just feels right.
He was wanted at the Emirates by Unai Emery and appears to have all the attributes needed to take to the Premier League with ease.
He’s quick, strong and good on the ball, and with Arteta known for turning young players into stars, a £40m deal could turn out to be the club’s best piece of business of the new decade.
