Arsenal plotting a move for Unai Emery’s top centre-back target

Arsenal are stepping up their pursuit of Gremio and Argentina defender Walter Kannemann as Unai Emery is set to bolster his centre-back options. Arsenal have only a budget of around £40million for new signings if they fail to win the Europa League and gain a place in next season’s Champions League. Now FOX Sports Argentina report that Arsenal are ‘intensifying’ their interest in the 28-year-old and are willing to offer around £11.5m to land him. Kannemann has a release clause in his contract of £17m, which Gremio will hold out for, but the Gunners will try to get him for slightly under that valuation as they try and stretch their transfer budget this summer. Petr Cech, Stephan Lichtsteiner and Danny Welbeck will all leave the club when their contracts expire, while Arsenal are open to offers for Mustafi, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Mohamed Elneny and Mesut Ozil.

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