Charlie Nicholas has said that Arsenal need to sign “big-name centre back” Raphael Varane from Real Madrid.

• Nicholas says Arsenal need to sign a defender, midfielder and striker
• He believes Varane would be just the big name defender Arsenal need

Nicholas believes Arsenal need to make significant investments if they’re to challenge for the Premier League next season. This means three key signings in defence, midfield and attack.

Virgil van Dijk is the name that’s most often thrown about for a defensive signing, but Nicholas reckons Arsenal be going after Raphael Varane as well.

“Arsene needs three signings in my opinion,” Nicholas said. “He needs another big-name centre-back, someone like Raphael Varane. He has spent big money so I’m not critical that he isn’t prepared to do that.”

Of course, none of this takes into account that Varane is very comfortable at Real Madrid and is now a regular starter in a team that just won La Liga and the Champions League.

At 24 years of age, his best years are ahead of him and he’s likely to be a starting centre back for Madrid for a long time.

Even assuming Madrid would want to sell the player, there’d be a load of top European clubs trying to sign him.

Arsenal, without any titles or Champions League to offer, would surely struggle.