Arsenal See de Ligt at the End of Defensive Tunnel

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Arsenal are turning their attention to Ajax centre-back Matthijs de Ligt as the Gunners remodel their back four, reports the Daily Mirror.

Barcelona were interested in the 18-year-old as a long-term signing but their ardour for the Netherlands international cooled with Samuel Umtiti, 24, indicating he is looking to sign a new deal at the Camp Nou.

The Gunners, however, face a testing summer with Laurent Koscielny, 32, suffering recurring problems with his Achilles and Per Mertesacker retiring to take charge of the club’s academy.

Doubts remain over the two younger central defenders at the club. Rob Holding has immense promise but is prone to the errors of youth while Calum Chambers is being used more as a right-back than in the centre.

De Ligt broke into the Ajax first team last season and has made 19 Eredivisie appearances so far this season.

He also received his first Netherlands call-up, making his debut against Bulgaria during the nation’s ill-fated World Cup qualifying campaign. De Ligt’s international education continued with two appearances last week, against England and Portugal.

Having signed Konstantinos Mavropanos, 21, from PAS Giannina with the newly-appointed head of recruitment Sven Mislintat keen to rejuvenate the Arsenal squad. The Gunners are also monitoring Bayer Leverkusen Panagiotis Retsos, the 19-year-old Greece international.