Arsenal skill keen on Kostas Manolas

Arsenal could return for Kostas Manolas in the New Year, should Per Mertesacker decide to part ways with the club. The Gunners failed with a £30m bid for the centre-half in the summer transfer window.

Arsene Wenger was keen on securing the services of Manolas in the summer before Roma slapped a £50m price tag on his head.

The North London giants therein followed to revive their pursuit for Shkodran Mustafi, who linked up from Valencia on a £35m deal.

According to Sport, the Gunners could revive their interest in Manolas with Mertesacker eyeing a possible return to Werder Bremen.

Club-captain Per Mertesacker is currently nursing a knee problem, and it is thought that he could eye a fresh challenge with his contract due to expire at the end of the season.

Koscielny and Mustafi have been preferred choice for the centre-back partnership with Rob Holding and Gabriel acting as back-up, but Wenger still feels the need to add a quality centre-back to his ranks.

Roma will remain firm on the £50m valuation for their asset as they owe around 50 percent of any future fee to former club Olympiakos.