Arsenal are planning a move for Juventus defender Mehdi Benatia this summer.
New Arsenal boss Unai Emery is working with the head of recruitment Sven Mislintat to bring in a number of new faces following the club's sixth-place finish in the Premier League and consequent departure of long-serving manager Arsene Wenger.
Defenders are understood to be near the top of the Gunners priority list following the retirement of Per Mertesacker and long-term injury suffered by Laurent Koscielny, the latter of whom is expected to be sidelined until December.
Le10 Sport claims that Mislintat has identified Benatia as a likely target to strengthen those defensive options, with Juventus considering selling the 31-year-old Morocco international.
Juventus are thought to be keen on bringing in younger defenders as long-term replacements for aging trio Benatia, Giorgio Chiellini, and Andrea Barzagli, though they would demand in excess of £20m for the centre-back.
Benatia has spent the last two years with the Italian champions, initially joining on loan before making that deal permanent last summer.
This article was most recently revised and updated 2 years ago
