Arsenal wants to sign Bayern star Matthijs de Ligt

Bayern Munich star Matthijs de Ligt is the latest player to be linked with a transfer to Arsenal. The north Londoners are fairly short of numbers in defence, with injuries to Jurrien Timber and Takehiro Tomiyasu leaving Mikel Arteta light at the back.

Now, The Athletic has reported that Arteta's coaching staff admire Bayern's De Ligt. The Dutch international is highly rated across Europe, having been an instrumental part of the Ajax team to reach the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League semi-final under now-Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has admitted that his side are short at the back following Tomiyasu's recent injury. When asked about his decision to deploy Declan Rice at center-back against PSV Eindhoven earlier this month, Arteta said: "We are very short at the back and I wanted to try if something happens, how we’re going to resolve that situation.

"I thought he was really good."

Arsenal are unlikely to have too much to spend in January, so loan deals with an option to buy could be preferable. As things stand though, unless such a deal presents itself, it would seem internal solutions are the more likely course of action for Arsenal.

According to Transfermarkt, De Ligt's contract in Bavaria expires in the summer of 2025.