Arsenal could look to re-sign one of their former defenders who is attracting transfer interest from Premier League rivals, according to reports. With a Premier League title to defend and a Champions League final loss to avenge, Mikel Arteta is planning to strengthen in almost every position this summer.
Arsenal's Summer Transfer Targets
Goalkeeper Illan Meslier has arrived from Leeds United, while midfielder Bruno Guimaraes has told Newcastle United he wants to move to the Emirates. A left-sided forward is also on the shopping list, with England World Cup star Morgan Rogers the top target after a brilliant season at Aston Villa.
Arteta is also keen to bolster his defensive options, with Sky Sports reporting that Arsenal have an interest in Konstantinos Mavropanos. The centre-back was one of Arsene Wenger's final signings for the Gunners but made just eight appearances before Arteta loaned him out and sold him to Stuttgart for €3.2 million (£2.7 million) in 2022.
Mavropanos's Journey Since Leaving Arsenal
Mavropanos returned to London a year later via West Ham and impressed last season despite suffering relegation to the Championship on the final day. Multiple clubs in the Premier League and Europe are interested in the Greek international, including Arsenal, who admire their former defender.
A move for the 28-year-old would seem unlikely given that Arsenal already have three right-footed centre-back options: William Saliba, Cristhian Mosquera, and Ben White. However, Saliba and White had injury problems toward the run-in last season, so Arteta may be looking for extra options if fitness issues continue.
West Ham's Relegation Fire Sale
It is not known how much West Ham would want for Mavropanos, who is under contract until 2028 and cost around £21 million. Much of the Irons squad is up for sale following their relegation, including Dutch winger Crysencio Summerville, who has attracted interest from Arsenal and Manchester United. However, they have no plans to sell star player and captain Jarrod Bowen, despite links with United, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Aston Villa.
