Arsenal plan £6m January swoop for St Etienne defender Loic Perrin

Arsenal are considering a move in signing St Etienne defender Loic Perrin in January, according to the Telegraph.

The Gunners have the services of Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny as the first choice centre-backs in the squad. Summer signing Calum Chambers is the main back-up option in the heart of the defence, who can also feature in the right-back position.

Koscielny has been struggling with an Achilles tendon problem, which has seen his first team appearances being limited. The French international's lack of appearances has seen Arsene Wenger change his side's back four regularly depending on the availability of the players.

The north London club will hand their manager a budget of £20m in bringing new players to the Emirates in the mid-season transfer window. The Frenchman has made signing a centre-back as a priority when the transfer window re-opens on Thursday.

Perrin, who is Etienne's captain, can feature as a centre-back or a defensive midfielder and is believed to be available for a transfer fee of £6m next month. With limited budget to spend, a move for the 29-year-old will still allow Wenger to focus on strengthening other areas in the squad.

The French international's versatility can give Wenger more options during the team selection. In the defensive midfield position, Arsenal have the services of club skipper Mikel Arteta, and Mathieu Flamini as the first choice players in the squad, with Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey, Francis Coquelin and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who all can feature in the centre-midfield role.

However, Perrin, 29, has only a few years of top flight football left under his belt and the Gunners' transfer policy is against signing players who are in the later stages of their career.

Meanwhile, Arsenal have several other options in the market after Wenger earlier confirmed the Emirates club's interest in signing Ipswich Town defender Tyrone Wings. The Gunners are also monitoring Celtic's Virgil van Dijk, who has been on the 65-year-old manager's radar since last summer.