Arsenal facing competition from AC Milan for top transfer target

The Gunners are in the market for a new center half that would address the defensive woes that have hamstrung the side’s push for a top-four spot this season.

Arsenal are facing stiff competition from Italian giants AC Milan for transfer target Jerome Boateng, amid reports that the Gunners want to sign the Bayern Munich center-half this month.

Reports claim that Mikel Arteta wants to buy a new central defender in January to plug his team’s leaky defense that has seen them conceding 31 goals in only 22 Premier League games this season.

The former Man City assistant boss expressed his trust in the likes of David Luiz and Sokratis Papastathopoulos after being appointed as the North London club’s manager last month.

However, with the Gunners keeping a single clean-sheet in four league games under the Spaniard, it is claimed that the ex-Everton midfielder wants the club to sign Boateng to shore up his defensive options.

Prior to Milan entering the transfer race for Boateng, Arsenal had held talks with Bayern over a potential loan deal for the 31-year-old.

It is believed that having spent a substantial sum on signings in the summer, the Gunners currently have limited funds to secure the permanent transfer of Boateng.

However, as Sky Sport reports, Bayern are adamant that they would only let Boateng leave the club if they receive an offer in the region of €15m.

The stance of the German giants has opened the doors for AC Milan to convince the player to prefer a move to San Siro ahead of a return to the Premier League.