The left-back rumours are back. Obviously.

It started with Nacho Monreal, with the Spanish media continuously remarking that the defender is wanted by Athletic Club and that Arsenal would be willing to do a deal. Monreal has stated that he is happy at Arsenal and even wants a new contract, while the club have had no substantial links with a replacement and don’t seem to want Monreal to leave.

The Italian press used the ‘Monreal to Athletic’ story to pedal a ‘Faouzi Ghoulam to Arsenal’ narrative.

The Algerian defender has impressed at Napoli and is also strong going forward, an attribute that has become synonymous with Arsenal fullbacks and one that seems to make a rumour linking a defender to Arsène Wenger’s side all the more reliable.

Now tuttomercato.web are claiming an exclusive saying that Arsenal will challenge Italian clubs who are interested in Schalke 04 defender Sead Kolasinac. The Bosnian defender has a contract until 2017 but has been linked with a host of Serie A clubs, including giants Juventus, AS Roma and Internazionale.

Hamburg's Ivica Olic (L) and Schalke's Sead Kolasinac vie for the ball during German Bundesliga match between Hamburg SV and FC Schalke 04 at the Imtech Arena in Hamburg. (OLIVER LANG/AFP/Getty Images)
Hamburg’s Ivica Olic (L) and Schalke’s Sead Kolasinac vie for the ball during German Bundesliga match between Hamburg SV and FC Schalke 04 at the Imtech Arena in Hamburg. (OLIVER LANG/AFP/Getty Images)

Kolasinac is just 22 years of age and capable of playing centrally too if required but only managed six Bundesliga matches in 2014/15 after a cruciate ligament injury was followed by a number of minor issues.

For that reason alone Arsenal would be foolish to go in for him, and even more foolish to let Monreal go in order to pursue the Bosnian.