Arsenal are reportedly considering a move to re-sign former player Konstantinos Mavropanos from West Ham United, according to Sky Sports.
The Greek international made his name in England after leaving Arsenal and has since established himself as a reliable Premier League defender.
Arsenal currently boast one of the strongest central defensive units in European football, with William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes forming their undisputed first-choice pairing when fit.
Despite that defensive quality, the club continue to be linked with centre-backs, and Mavropanos is the latest name to emerge as a potential target at the Emirates.
The 28-year-old is not short of suitors, with several other Premier League clubs also said to be monitoring his situation at West Ham this summer.
Arsenal already have Saliba, Cristhian Mosquera, Ben White, and Jurrien Timber as right-footed centre-half options, which makes the pursuit of Mavropanos a difficult one to justify on paper.
The future of Ben White appears to be a driving factor in the club’s search for defensive reinforcements, with the Englishman widely expected to leave despite his contract running until June 2028.
White has been injury prone over the last 24 months, prompting Arsenal to seek a versatile centre-back capable of also operating at right-back, a profile that Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa fits more closely.
Mavropanos is considered a specialist right-sided centre-back, having made just five career appearances at right-back compared to 66 for Konsa, which could limit his appeal to Mikel Arteta’s side.
If the Greek defender were to return to north London, he would likely face the prospect of accepting a deputy role, something that may not appeal to him during the prime years of his career.
West Ham signed Mavropanos from Stuttgart for £19 million three years ago and are expected to demand significantly more given current transfer market inflation, with figures of £30 to £35 million being realistic.
That asking price could prove to be a major sticking point for Arsenal, who may be reluctant to spend that amount on a specialist centre-back who would not command a regular starting spot.
Arsenal have had a relatively quiet summer window so far, with goalkeeper Illan Meslier representing their only first-team addition following a free transfer from Leeds United.
The club are expected to accelerate their transfer activity in the coming days, with Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes identified as the primary midfield target and a third offer set to be submitted soon.