Sven Mislintat has recommended Abdou Diallo and Ohis Felix Uduokhai as potential replacements for Per Mertesacker, according to reports.

Arsenal will need a new centre back in the summer when club captain Per Mertesacker retires.

According to the Daily Mail, the club already has replacements in mind thanks to new head of recruitment Sven Mislintat.

They report that Mislintat has recommended Mainz’s Abdou Diallo and Wolfsburg’s Ohis Felix Uduokhai.

Diallo, a 21-year-old Frenchman, joined Mainz from Monaco in the summer and has since made 15 appearances in all competitions.

Uduokhai, on the other hand, is a 20-year-old German who Wolfsburg signed in the summer from 2.Bundesliga side 1860 Munich.

He’s made 16 appearances in all competitions for his new club.

Mislintat only began his new role in November, but has a number of contacts from his time in Germany and should have an extensive knowledge of the Bundesliga.

With Mertesacker retiring, Laurent Koscielny’s form declining and continuing doubt about the quality of Shkodran Mustafi, Arsenal may need a signing or two to bolster the defence.

Whether a pair of young defenders is the answer remains to be seen, but Mislintat does have a reputation for spotting great talents.