Arsenal are interested in a deal for England defender Jarell Quansah. Standard Sport understands that while a formal approach has yet to be made to Bayer Leverkusen, the former Liverpool centre-back is one of a number of defensive targets currently under consideration in north London.
Versatility key for Arteta
Arsenal appreciate Quansah's versatility and ability to operate either in the centre of defence or at right-back, with manager Mikel Arteta needing a new signing who can do both.
First-choice centre-back William Saliba will be sidelined for an extended period of time with an ongoing back injury that was exacerbated at the World Cup, while Arteta admitted this week that right-back Jurrien Timber was still "weeks away" from returning from a persistent groin issue that has lingered since March.
Ben White - who can cover both positions, along with Cristhian Mosquera - has also only recently returned from a knee ligament injury that curtailed his 25/26 campaign early in May.
Leverkusen reluctant to sell
Bayer Leverkusen are said to be very reluctant to sell Quansah and would likely demand a fee well in excess of the £30million they paid to sign him from Liverpool last summer, per Sky Sports.
Arsenal are still monitoring Quansah's England team-mate Ezri Konsa, who can also play at both centre-back and right-back.
Konsa valuation gap
However, there is still understood to be a sizeable gap between what they are currently willing to pay for the player and Aston Villa's £60m valuation, with Arsenal believed to have seen one approach for Konsa worth around £30m rebuffed already this summer.
Arsenal have also been linked with Atletico Madrid defender Marc Pubill and Barcelona's Jules Kounde in the Spanish press this week.
