Arsenal are reportedly keen on pursuing the signature of Real Valladolid defender Fernando Calero amid the recent long-term term injury for Rob Holding.
The Gunners recently witnessed Holding sustain a serious knee problem and they have since confirmed that the Englishman could be sidelined between six and nine months.
Amidst this, manager Unai Emery is understood to be keen on bolstering the central defensive department and Cadena Ser reveals that the club are looking into a winter agreement for Calero.
Calero, 23, has been in impressive form for the Valladolid defence this term which has conceded just 15 goals in as many league games and his showing has seemingly captured the eye of Europe’s elite including Borussia Dortmund.
Nonetheless, the Gunners are pondering over a winter approach for the Spanish defender with his current contract with the La Liga side said to possess a relatively cheap release clause of around £10m.
Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis had featured for the Gunners during the recent league clash versus Huddersfield but neither will feature at Southampton this weekend after receiving a one-match suspension for accumulating five yellow cards.
In this case, club-captain Laurent Koscielny could be drafted into the league mix after recovering from a long-term Achilles problem while Nacho Monreal and Stephan Lichtsteiner remain probable options in a makeshift role.
Konstantinos Mavropanos is another who should return to the first-team setup in the forthcoming weeks following a lengthy groin problem and a winter agreement for Calero may witness him remain a back-up option for the season at best.
Arsenal are scheduled to entertain Qarabag in their final group stage game of the Europa League on Thursday night and the game may witness Koscielny earning his first competitive appearance of the season before possibly making his league bow.
