Arsenal have reportedly got in touch with Lazio in regards to defender, Stefan De Vrij, although it’s not clear when this happened.

Italian publication, Il Tempo, claim that Arsenal (and Chelsea) have both been in touch but also state that Lazio are hopeful of tying him down to a new deal, something they’ve been trying to do for a while now. The 24-year-old is out of contract in 2018 and the Italians want to get him signed to a contract that has a €35m release clause.

Sport Witness claim that Chelsea tried to land the centre back during the end of the summer window and hint at the player delaying starting negotiations with Lazio over a new deal. Perhaps waiting for a concrete offer from another club to come his way?

With doubts hanging over Per Mertesacker’s future – the defender is out of contract in the summer and no new one has been forthcoming in light of his knee injury – Arsenal could well be in the market for another defender.

With Gabriel, Rob Holding and Calum Chambers all options at the club, it’s hard to see Wenger reaching into his wallet for another top-drawer centreback, although you never know.