Arsenal are advancing on talks over a deal for for Valencia centre back Cristhian Mosquera.
The 20-year-old had been close to agreeing a move to the Bundesliga with Red Bull Leipzig but despite offering a decent contract, the German side failed to agree terms with Valencia.
Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen had also posted interest but it is Arsenal who have now come to the fore.
The Spain youth international is the north London club’s preferred defensive choice to reinforce their backline.
He has made 90 appearances for the La Liga club in total, featuring in 37 of Valencia’s 38 league games last season.
A right-footed and physically-imposing centre back, the Gunners see Mosquera as ideal cover for first-choice pairing Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba.
Andrea Berta is a long-term admirer of Mosquera, having been close to signing him when he was Atletico Madrid sporting director.
Arsenal have long been searching for a new centre back. They considered moving for Brazilian teenager Vitor Reis ahead of the January window, but he ended up at Manchester City.
And then the club looked at Dean Huijsen before he left Bournemouth for Real Madrid earlier this summer.
The news comes just 24 hours after the Gunners agreed a £15 million fee to sign Brentford midfielder Christian Norgaard.
Meanwhile, Myles Lewis-Skelly said on Thursday he wants to create a ‘legacy’ at Arsenal after signing a five-year contract.
The 18-year-old left back, whose current deal expires next summer, had been subject of reported interest from Real Madrid.
But the teenager has committed his future to the Gunners, including a significant pay rise, after a stunning breakthrough campaign last season.
He said: ‘I want a legacy. I want to win everything there is to win in the game. I want to win trophies on the biggest stages whilst being a person that’s always learning and stays grounded, which is so important.’
