WE ARE IN TALKS WITH ARSENAL, HE COULD JOIN THEM IN JUNE

Arsenal are ‘in talks’ with Athletic Bilbao over a possible free transfer for Fernando Amorebieta, according to the player’s agent.

The 27-year-old will not sign an extension with the La Liga club and is set to depart the San Mames at the end of the current campaign because of it.

Amorebieta’s agent, Gines Carvajal says there are a lot of options available for the defender to consider, but states his client wants to join a Premier League side and Arsenal could well be his chosen destination.

Carvajal said:

‘We are in talks with Arsenal, he could join them in June.

‘We have had some contact with Anzhi [Makhachkala], they were ready to make a good offer, but my client wants to play in England so the transfer to Russia was not possible.’

Since breaking through the Bilbao first-team in 2005, Amorebieta, who can operate both as a full-back or centre-back, has made a total of 233 appearances for the Basque club and has been capped eight times for Venezuela.

Known for his versatility, hard-tackling and position, Amorebieta would certainly offer us more options in defence and would be an astute signing for us this summer.