Arsenal are on the hunt for a defender and there is no shortage of names being linked, but what of these five who were linked with a move ahead of the January window?

Fernando Calero

Real Madrid’s Spanish defender Alvaro Odriozola (L) vies with Real Valladolid’s Spanish defender Fernando Calero during the Spanish league football match between Real Madrid CF and Real Valladolid FC at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on November 3, 2018. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP / Getty Images)

Age: 23
Position: Centre-Back
Contract until: 2021
Club: Real Valladolid
Estimated transfer value: £9m (was £7.2m in January)

Arsenal reportedly ‘registered their interest‘ with Real Valladolid for their defender, Fernando Calero, at the start of December.

23-year-old Calero caught the eye of several top European clubs last season, including the Gunners who have also been attracted by his reported €11m release clause. At this point, however, it should be noted the release clause has not been confirmed. Calero’s current contract runs until 2021.

A centreback who can play left or right, the right-footed Spaniard struggles in the air so that’s something he’d certainly need to work on if he arrived at Arsenal.

Unlike many others we’ve seen play back there for Arsenal over recent times, however, Calero has no issues with his concentration throughout a game. Plus, his ability to position himself in order to block shots is very good.

The player visited London ahead of the January window, though he claimed afterwards it was just for a holiday, not to complete a transfer.

There has been little mention of Arsenal moving again for him, but, as we know, that could just mean the press haven’t got wind of anything.

Gary Cahill

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 20: Gary Cahill of Chelsea signs autographs prior to the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on October 20, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Age: 33
Position: Centre-Back
Contract until: without club
Club: Chelsea
Estimated transfer value: £0m

There were plenty of rumours circulating that Arsenal could be interested in a move for Gary Cahill in January. Unai Emery was running low on centre-back options, what with all the injuries in the back line last season, and the English defender was out of favour at Chelsea.

Maurizio Sarri admitted he wouldn’t stand in Cahill’s way if the defender wanted to move on in January but he didn’t and Arsenal didn’t move. Now he’s available for free after running down his contract with Chelsea.

The question is whether Unai Emery would be any more comfortable than Sarri signing a defender who isn’t as strong technically. Undoubtedly, Arsenal could use a defender with experience who can strengthen the side without possession.

If that comes at the expense of being able to play out from the back though, it may not be worth it.

Mario 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,)

Age: 24
Position: Centre-back
Contract until: 2020
Club: Real Betis
Estimated transfer value: £18m

Reports from Spain suggested Arsenal were considering paying the €40m release clause for Espanyol defender Mario Hermoso in January but that obviously didn’t happen and he’s hardly been mentioned since.

Hermoso joined Espanyol from Real Madrid in 2017, having never appeared for Madrid’s first team after coming through their academy. Since then, the 24-year-old has really made a name for himself in La Liga.

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

Hermoso played 32 games in Espanyol’s league campaign, scoring three goals and helping them keep nine clean sheets. It’s no surprise the big clubs are starting to take an interest, and that only increased after the Spaniard made his international debut in November.

Eric Bailly

Burnley-FC-v-Manchester-United-Premier-League-1537171996

BURNLEY, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 02: Jose Mourinho, Manager of Manchester United in discussion with Eric Bailly of Manchester United as he replaces Paul Pogba of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Burnley FC and Manchester United at Turf Moor on September 2, 2018 in Burnley, United Kingdom. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Age: 25
Position: Centre-Back
Contract until: 2020
Club: Manchester United
Estimated transfer value: £22.5m

Reports in December suggested Jose Mourinho was ‘ready to sell’ Eric Bailly, as the then-Manchester United manager looked to free up some space for a replacement centre-back. Sky Sports called the centre-back ‘out of favour’ in Manchester and said defensive reinforcements might be on Arsenal’s radar.

The Telegraph wrote that Mourinho was ‘prepared to cash in’ on Eric Bailly and Marcos Rojo to bring in a new defender. However, it was never clear whether Manchester United were in favour of the sale or not, and, in the end, both remained with the club while it was Mourinho who left.

If Bailly does leave, the Express wrote that Arsenal were touted with a move for him. Unai Emery knows the 24-year-old pretty well from his time in Spain, as the Ivory Coast international played for Espanyol and Villarreal whilst Emery was with Sevilla.

With Villarreal, the defender was massively impressive, and a big part of the La Liga side’s fantastic defensive record in 2015/16. For whatever reason, he’s never quite been able to consistently rediscover that form with United. Still so young for a centre-back, perhaps a move would help him get back to his best.

He is currently recovering from a knee injury that ruled him out of the AFCON but is hoping to be fit to join in with United’s pre-season and is said to favour a stay at Old Trafford despite only starting 14 games last season.

Daniele Rugani

Age: 24
Position: Centre-Back
Contract until: 2023
Club: Juventus
Estimated transfer value: £19.8m

Arsenal were ‘seriously monitoring’ the availability of Juventus’ Daniele Rugani, according to reports in the English media ahead of the January window.

Express Sport wrote that Arsenal were following the centre-back closely, though Chelsea were favourites to move for the 24-year-old. Various reports suggested Rugani would cost between €35m (£31m) and €50m (£44m).

In the end, he extended his contract with Juve for another two years.

Rugani had a contract with Juventus until 2021 at the time Arsenal were linked, and, as we said at the time, in the past he’s chosen to commit his future to the club rather than push for a move. His agent admitted last summer that he’d previously held talks with Arsenal over a transfer, but at the time he insisted the defender was happy with Juventus. It seems he wasn’t lying.

However, the signs suggest that’s starting to change and this could be his last contract with the Old Lady. Rugani really struggled to get into the Juventus team in the first half of the season, only making six appearances in all competitions (five starts). He was also tagged in an Instagram post by girlfriend Michela Persico with the two of them learning English which set many tongues wagging.

With a couple of years left on his contract and seemingly no place in Juventus’ first choice team, January looked to be the perfect time for Rugani to move on.

Now, however, who knows?

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