Arsenal make approach to sign Abdou Diallo as Sven Mislintat gets to work on recruitment drive

Arsenal have made initial enquiries into a move for Mainz 05 defender Abdou Diallo, according to reports in France.

A revamp behind the scenes at the Emirates saw the club appoint Sven Mislintat as their new head of recruitment in November, the man responsible for signing the talents of Ousmane Dembele and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang during his time at Borussia Dortmund.

The German scout came to north London carrying the expectation to replicate those success stories and has already identified Arsenal's next possible signing in 21-year-old Diallo, according to RMC Sport.

With Mislintat bringing him to the club's attention, Arsenal have informed Mainz of their interest in doing a deal, although any move is likely to wait until the summer. While the Premier League side would like to strike a deal when the transfer window opens in January, Diallo is still in his first season in the Bundesliga, having only joined from Ligue 1 champions AS Monaco last summer.

Mainz have no intention of cashing in on a player who has instantly become a first-team regular at this point in the season. RMC add however that stance is likely to change in the summer should the Gunners come in with a substantial offer for the France Under-21 international.

Arsenal have been heavily linked with another Frenchman in Thomas Lemar with L'Equipe reporting the club will make another bid for the Monaco star next month after a €100m (£90m) fell through on transfer deadline day in the summer.

Arsene Wenger is keen to strengthen his squad for the second-half of the season but only if his targets become available – adding fans should not expect any wholesale changes.

"You do not imagine that will we will change 10 players in January," Wenger told beIN Sport, football.london report. "It is 90 percent that it is the same squad.

"If we can find some additions to strengthen our squad we will do it. But we have a big squad, I think we have players of quality. We need just to stick together and fight as we can until the end of the season.

"I believe that we have to be faithful to the players we have at the moment."