Arsenal interested in Bayern Munich defender - report

Arsenal hold an interest in Bayern Munich's Matthijs de Ligt, a new report has revealed, with Mikel Arteta confirming the club are prepared to spend in the January transfer window.

The Gunners have built on last season's progress to once again position themselves as genuine title contenders - they topped the table heading into Christmas before Liverpool's win over Burnley put them top of the pile on Boxing Day.

Thursday's clash with West Ham at the Emirates Stadium gives Arsenal the opportunity to grab top spot back, but Arteta is missing a number of players through either injury or suspension. Thomas Partey, Fabio Vieira, Jurrien Timber and Takehiro Tomiyasu are all on the treatment table, while Kai Havertz is banned after picking up five yellow cards.

Bayern Munich centre-back De Ligt is a long-term defensive target, The Athletic report, alongside Borussia Dortmund's Nico Schlotterbeck and Jeremie Frimpong, who 90min previously revealed have been scouted in the Bundesliga this season.

De Ligt isn't thought to be a viable target in January - he is just 17 months into a five-year deal at Bayern and cost the club upwards of £60m when joining from Juventus - but there may be potential to negotiate in the future as the Dutchman isn't a regular starter in Bavaria because he's battling Dayot Upamecano and Kim Min-jae for a place in Thomas Tuchel's side.

Nonetheless, Arteta admitted in his pre-match media duties that Arsenal will look to act in the window if they feel the right deal is available, hinting that injuries to versatile players - Timber and Tomiyasu can play anywhere across the back line - has hindered his side the most.

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"At the moment, it is very difficult. We are really short,” Arteta admitted. "We have positions that we have been very exposed for the last six weeks and hopefully we are going to get players back. In what condition and when?

"That’s a question mark and as well because we have some long-term injuries still for certain players that give us a lot of versatility and that’s an issue. We have certain targets, ideas if things happen. As well, we don’t know how the squad is going to look in two weeks’ time and you have to be always prepared for that.

"But it is a very, very tricky market that shifts very quickly and it is quite unpredictable as well – and you have to be prepared. We will be prepared and we will try to make the right calls. If there is something that we can [do to] improve the squad and that needs appear, and we cannot fulfil it with players here, we are always going to be open to do that because we want to be stronger."

The Gunners spent more than £200m on new signings in the summer, forking out a club-record £105m on Declan Rice in addition to signing Timber and Havertz, in a bid to build on last season's runner-up finish in the Premier League.

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