Arsenal are believed to be interested in FC Basel defender Aleksandar Dragovic. The 22-year-old put in an impressive performance against Tottenham last midweek, when the Swiss played the north London club in the first leg of a UEFA Europa League quarter final tie.

Aleksandar Dragovic (R)
Reuters

Aresenal boss Arsene Wenger sent chief scout Steve Rowley to watch Dragovic, according to the Metro. The long-serving Arsenal boss has been tracking the Austrian international since he joined Basel in 2011.

Basel will likely want a fee in the region of £6m for the Austrian, who has also attracted interest from Premier League champions Manchester City and Everton. In addition, Liverpool are believed to be long-time admirers as well and with the Reds' veteran, Jamie Carragher, retiring in the summer, Brendan Rodgers might be tempted to make a move now.

Wenger is understood to want to revamp his defensive options for next season, with French duo of Sebastian Squillaci and Bacary Sagna and Belgian Thomas Vermaelen expected to leave the Emirates.

Squillaci's contract expires in the summer and will probably not be given an extension. Sagna's contract expires next season but failure to agree terms over a new deal suggests he too will leave the club at the end of the season. And Vermaelen, once a key member of Wenger's team, has found his place in the squad under threat following poor performances and has been linked to Spanish giants Barcelona.

Other Defensive Options

Meanwhile, the Gunners do have other possibilities, with reports linking them with a move for Sochaux defender Sebastien Corchia. The Gunners have also expressed an interest in Swansea defender Ashley Williams and Cameroonian defender Nicolas N'Koulou has also been linked.

Wenger is also believed to want a new goalkeeper to challenge and, if necessary, replace Wojciech Szczesny as No 1. They are believed to have made an opening bid for Sporting Lisbon shot-stopper Rui Patricio and are linked to a number of other options, including Chelsea veteran Petr Cech.

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