Arsenal make Mehdi Benatia their primary target as Xhaka deal nears completion

Arsenal have made Mehdi Benatia their top target for the summer transfer window as they look to invigorate their options in defence. The 29-year has spent two years in Bayern Munich but has made only 30 appearances and would prefer a stint abroad to increase his game time.

French outlet RMC Sport reports that Manchester United and Chelsea are also interested in his services but the Gunners are willing to pull all stops to sign the player, having struggled defensively in the recently concluded campaign. The likes of Per Mertesacker and Gabriel have failed to perform at the same level as Laurent Koscielny and Benatia's arrival will add some much-needed depth to the back four, which needs a shake-up this summer.

He would be Arsenal's second signing for the window, with a deal for Granit Xhaka all but signed up after the Borussia Monchengladbach player was pictured in an Arsenal kit following his medical. The Swiss international is a tough tackling midfielder with an eye for the pass and will slot into the Arsenal midfield alongside a host of options that Arsene Wenger has managed to put together.

Benatia's lack of appearances at Bayern stem for the fact that he has suffered multiple injuries over the course of the last two years, having arrived from AS Roma in 2014 for a fee in the range of €30m (£23, $34). The Gunners, should they manage to land the Moroccan, will be hoping that he can get over his injury woes, given Arsenal's concern in this department over the past few seasons.

The north London club have already lost Danny Welbeck to a knee injury for the majority of the next season and are looking for a striker to provide competition for Olivier Giroud. The Frenchman has scored 25 goals and assisted six in all competitions this season but had gone through a lean spell halfway through the league which cost the Gunners the title.