Arsene Wenger confirms fee agreed for Krystian Bielik as Arsenal consider Winston Reid

Arsenal's effort to bolster their squad in January are picking up pace after manager Arsene Wenger confirmed a deal for Polish teenager Krystian Bielik before hinting West Ham United's Winston Reid is also being considered.

The Gunners were rocked on Thursday 15 January following the announcement that both Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Debuchy are faced with three months on the sidelines after undergoing surgery to address respective ankle and shoulder problems.

Wenger has since claimed the Spanish midfielder could realistically return within six weeks but the club's need for reinforcement across the pitch remains urgent.

Speaking to the press on Friday 16 January, the Arsenal boss confirmed the club's first piece of business is almost wrapped up, with club scouts now working overtime to identity the right man to come into their defence.

"He [Bielik] is having a medical today," he told the media at his Friday news conference. "A fee has been agreed.

West Ham centre-half Reid, who is out of contract at the end of the season, has emerged as a possible target for the club and it would appear the Gunners are looking into the possibility of bringing the 26-year-old to north London.

When asked if Reid was someone the Gunners are looking at, Wenger said: "Of course. We are out on the market and every day, all our scouts, all our people are working hard to find to find a defender," ESPN report.

"At the moment, we are looking more for the defensive department."

Arsenal's other injury problems elsewhere in the squad are beginning to ease with the trio of Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey and Theo Walcott all to be included in the squad ahead of the visit to Manchester City on Sunday 18 January.

Defender Kieran Gibbs is also in line to make the match-day squad and will face a late fitness test later on Friday.

But Arsenal will be without Danny Welbeck for a further two weeks, Wenger confirmed. The former Manchester United striker suffered the thigh problem at the end of December but is likely to be in line to face Tottenham Hotspur in the second north London derby of the season on 7 February.