Matthijs de Ligt is on Arsenal’s shortlist of centre-back targets, though a January move for the Bayern Munich defender is ‘infeasible’.
Mikel Arteta remains keen to bring in further reinforcements for his backline, despite the Gunners boasting the joint-best defensive record in the Premier League this season.
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According to The Athletic, loan deals are more likely than permanent transfers for Arsenal in the January transfer window, following a summer outlay that included the £105m club record arrival of Declan Rice from West Ham.
The club’s FFP situation means a move for De Ligt is ‘infeasible’ in the winter window, despite the club’s long-term interest in the Dutch defender.
Bayern Munich are also likely to be reluctant to allow De Ligt to depart mid-season with Kim Min-jae departing to compete in the Asia Cup for South Korea in January.
De Ligt has fallen out of favour with the Bundesliga champions this season, with Min-jae’s arrival from Napoli in the summer and a knee ligament injury having restricted the 24-year-old to just 278 minutes of Bundesliga action in 2023/24.
Arsenal are also admirers of Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck, while the Gunners are monitoring the progress of Ajax’s teenage defender Jorrel Hato.
The 17-year-old has made 25 senior appearances for the Eredivise side this season, captaining the club on occasion, and earned his first senior cap for the Netherlands in November.
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