Mikel Arteta is eager for Arsenal to sign Atletico Madrid star Marc Pubill to bolster his defence ahead of the new season.
The Premier League champions have strengthened in midfield and in attack with Bruno Guimaraes and Christos Tzolis added to the squad for a combined fee of £109million.
But problems in defence have the club eager to recruit another option at the back ahead of the defence of their title.
Pubill has shone at Atletico after his move from Almeria a year ago, arriving as a full-back before featuring prominently at centre-half after the turn of the year.
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The Spain international played the full 90 minutes in each of Atletico’s Champions League semi-finals against Arsenal with Arteta hugely impressed by the 23-year-old.
According to AS, he immediately instructed Andrea Berta to ‘make a move’ for the defender, with the club’s sporting director approaching his former employers over a transfer.
Arsenal were prepared to ‘break the bank’ to bring Pubill to north London but the report states things have gone no further with Atletico determined to hold onto their defender with talks also underway to tie him down to a new contract.
Pubill is also said to be fully committed to the project in the Spanish capital.
Arsenal boast perhaps the most formidable defence in club football but injury problems have been a growing issue. In addition to Pubill, the Gunners have also been linked with Barcelona star Jules Kounde and Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa this summer.
Jurrien Timber, Arteta’s first-choice right-back, has not played since March with a groin injury ruling him out of the season run-in and the World Cup with Netherlands.
He has returned to training but his manager has been unable to provide a clear timescale for his return to the team.
Ben White, another option at right-back and centre-half, suffered a knee injury in May that also ruled him out of the World Cup. The former Brighton star is fit again, featuring in pre-season.
William Saliba meanwhile is sidelined as a result of a back injury. He and the club opted against the option of surgery over the summer with the France international likely to miss the opening months of the new campaign.
Elsewhere, Arsenal have explored a deal to sign another Atletico star in Julian Alvarez. The Argentina international is desperate to join Barcelona however with reports in Spain claiming he is not interested in a return to England.
Atletico, furious with Barcelona’s public pursuit of the striker this summer, are refusing to sell him to their domestic rivals.