Media split on Arsenal’s first defensive signing this month

Arsenal are reportedly set to complete their first signing of the summer this month, but the media are split on who that will be.

According to Gianluca Di Marzio Arsenal are closing in on Borussia Dortmund defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos.

Kicker also report the Gunners are best-placed to sign the player, who would cost around €15-20m.

The Greek centre-back has offers from other English clubs, as well as some from Serie A, according to the German source.

The 29-year-old is out of contract next summer and talks over extending his deal have broken down, with Dortmund now resigned to selling the player.

In contrast to those reports though, the Daily Telegraph reported last night that Freiburg defender Caglar Soyuncu was the man who had been identified by head of recruitment Sven Mislintat.

Arsenal have scouted Turkey international Soyuncu, 21, extensively are prepared to pay £35million for the player, who was believed to have already agreed a move to England recently.

Football.london also claim Soyuncu is determined to seal a move to Arsenal and a deal could be done within 14 days.

One thing that the media can agree on though is that Mislintat’s influence at the club is growing by the day and the club will press on with recruitment despite the fact that no successor to Arsene Wenger has yet been appointed.

The defence has been earmarked as a priority bu the former Dortmund supremo, particularly with Per Mertesacker retiring and Laurent Koscielny struggling with injury.