Arsenal are in need of defensive reinforcements in January, after a number of injuries and poor performances at the back, but which players have been linked with a winter transfer to North London?

3Mario Hermoso

MADRID, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 22: Mario Hermoso of RCD Espanyol controls the ball during the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF and RCD Espanyol at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 22, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images,)
MADRID, SPAIN – SEPTEMBER 22: Mario Hermoso of RCD Espanyol controls the ball during the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF and RCD Espanyol at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 22, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images,)
  • Age: 23
  • Position: Centre-back
  • Contract until: 2020
  • Club: Real Betis
  • Estimated transfer value: £18m

Recent reports from Spain suggest Arsenal are considering paying the €40m release clause for Espanyol defender Mario Hermoso in January.

Hermoso joined Espanyol from Real Madrid in 2017, having never appeared for Madrid’s first team after coming through their academy. Since then, the 23-year-old has really made a name for himself in La Liga.

Suddenly, there are rumours that Real Madrid want to activate their buy-back clause of €7.5m. However, Arsenal are also very interested, according to a report from Marca.

Hermoso had played every game of Espanyol’s league campaign before this month, scoring a couple of goals and helping them keep five clean sheets. It’s no surprise the big clubs are starting to take an interest, and that interest will only increase after the Spaniard made his international debut last month.

However, he is currently out with an injury which was expected to last around a month, so he should be back in early January.

Click ‘Next’ for more centre-backs linked with a January move to Arsenal