Arsenal are preparing a formal move to sign Aston Villa centre-back Ezri Konsa, according to The Daily Mail.
The Premier League holders face a significant defensive crisis after William Saliba sustained a back injury playing for France against Spain at the World Cup.
Saliba may require surgery, which could rule him out of action for the first half of the upcoming campaign, leaving Arsenal dangerously short at centre-back.
The Gunners leaned on Cristhian Mosquera and Jurrien Timber to fill the void last season, but neither option provides a straightforward long-term solution.
Mosquera has been inconsistent in central defence compared to his performances at right-back, while Timber has rarely featured in that position during his time at the club.
Timber also arrives at the new season carrying concerns, having been ruled out of the World Cup with the Netherlands due to a persistent groin issue that will need careful management.
Ben White represents a fourth right-footed option for the role, but he is still recovering from a knee injury sustained in May and is unlikely to be rushed back into action.
Konsa is seen as an ideal solution, with the 28-year-old having established himself as an undisputed starter at Villa under manager Unai Emery in recent seasons.
The England international completed 95 percent of his passes in the Premier League last term, winning close to 70 percent of his duels while averaging three recoveries and four clearances per game.
Konsa has yet to agree on a new Villa contract beyond June 2028 and is reportedly open about his future, which could give Arsenal encouragement that a deal is achievable.
The main obstacle remains the fee, with Villa reportedly demanding at least £60 million for the experienced defender, representing a significant outlay for a player who turns 29 in October.
Arsenal are unlikely to match that valuation in full but could be willing to do business if Villa are prepared to consider a figure in the region of £40-45 million.