Arsenal to sell Per Mertesacker

Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger will let long serving centre back Per Mertesacker leave The Emirates stadium in search of regular first team football in his homeland Germany. Four clubs are interested in the World Cup winner: RB Leipzig, Werder Bremen, FC Koln and Arminia Bielefeld.

Mertesacker, now retired from international duty, is unlikely to feature in Arsenal's first team on a regular basis having fallen behind Mustafi, Koscielny and Gabriel in the centre back positions.

Mertesacker has just one year remaining on his Arsenal deal and the Gunners are ready to cash in for a fee of around £5 million in January.

Impressive newly promoted outfit RB Leipzig are believed to be winning the race to sign Mertesacker and have even promised him club captaincy if he makes the move.

Arsenal hope to agree a transfer before the start of mid-November.