Arsenal are in advanced talks to sign Paris Saint-Germain defender Layvin Kurzawa, according to reports.
The French left-back is out of contract at the end of the season, and could be available on a free transfer but according to The Athletic, Arsenal are keen to sign Kurzawa this month.
The report claims Arsenal's head of football Raul Sanllehi held talks with the Ligue 1 champions on Thursday, with the Gunners seeing the prospect of signing the defender without paying a fee as a ‘no brainer’.
The 27-year-old has recently linked up with Kia Joorabchian, the agent with close links to Arsenal and in particular technical director Edu Gaspar.
Joorabchian is said to have played a key role in Arsenal's deal to sign David Luiz from Chelsea in the summer.
Speaking ahead of the Gunners' Premier League clash against Sheffield United, head coach Mikel Arteta admitted he was short of defensive options.
"We have a lot of issues at the back, the fact that Calum got the big injury is modifying our plans," he told reporters.
"It is what we have, the situation, it can happen between December and January, it is very common.
"We have to live with it, this is what we have. We have to put 11 players out on the pitch on Saturday and I am sure we will. They will try their best, and I will try to select the ones who in my opinion are the best fit for that game."
When asked if he was planning to sign any players, Arteta added: "Yes, but it has to be the right player, in the right context that financially we can compete and we can attract and all these factors, if you put them together, are not easy in this market."
With the reports that Arsenal could be set to make their first major signing of the January transfer window, some fans took to social media to react.
Some supporters believe the move would be a shrewd signing, whilst some others said the defender was not good enough.
One fan wrote: 'If your solution to a left-back injury crisis is Kurzawa in 2020, then you probably shouldn’t have the job you have,' while another posted: 'Kurzawa deal is a bit weird. When everybody is healthy Arsenal will have him, Tierney and Kolasinac.
'They planning on selling Kolasinac in the summer?'
