Arsenal are considering a move for Real Madrid defender Raul Albiol at the end of the season, according to the Daily Mail.

Raul Albiol
Reuters

The 27-year-old has lost his place in Real's starting line up, with Jose Mourinho preferring Sergio Ramos and Pepe in the back four. In addition to this, with Raphael Varane impressing with his performance for the La Liga giants in the recent times, the Spanish international has now fallen down their manager's pecking order.

The central defender has featured only 10 times in the league this season for Real and is likely to leave the Spanish capital at the end of the season, despite signing a contract extension last summer. Albiol's current deal runs down in 2016.

Arsene Wenger saw his side first crash out of the FA Cup at home as they lost to Blackburn Rovers, followed by their 3-1 defeat to Bayern Munich in the first leg of the last 16 tie of the Champions League in February. In addition to this, Arsenal's hope of finishing in the top four was further damaged after their defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the north London derby, earlier this month.

The Frenchman is looking to strengthen his back four as he is now likely to sell Thomas Vermaelen and Per Mertesacker in the summer to make way for Ashley Williams' move to the Emirates, according to another Daily Mail report.

Meanwhile, Athletic Bilbao star Fernando Amorebieta is also linked with a move to the north London club after the defender's agent hinted a move to England in the summer could be possible.

Arsenal Youngster Wants NextGen Success

The Gunners knocked out Inter Milan in the NextGen Series as midfielder Nico Yennari scored the only goal of the match. Arsenal youngster Chuba Akpom believes his side are getting stronger and stronger and has now set his eyes on winning the tournament with the north London club.

"We know we can win [the competition]. We have the players, we have the quality and the only way is forward for us. We are getting stronger and stronger. When you go through games like this, it just brings the team closer. We all want to win, we are all champions and this just bonds us together even more," Akpom told the club's official website.