Sky Sports Reporter Names Liverpool Target as One Player Who 'Might' Join Arsenal on Deadline Day

Sky Sports reporter Gail Davis has revealed that Arsenal are most likely to sign a defender on deadline day, with Domagoj Vida among the favourites to join.

The Gunners are weighing up a deadline day bid for Besiktas defender after the Turkish club placed a £26.9m price tag on the World Cup finalist.

According to the London Evening Standard, Arsenal wanted to do a cash-plus-players deal which would see Danny Welbeck or David Ospina go the other way, but Besiktas would prefer a straight sale.

Davis told Sky Sports News (quoted by the Daily Express) that Arsenal's defensive problems could force them to invest in a centre back.

"If it is to be anybody, it’s likely to be a defender," she said. "If you look at who they’ve got, Laurent Koscielny is out with his Achilles until December, Sead Kolasinac got injured in pre-season.

"Lots of speculation around the Croatian defender over the past few days, Domagoj Vida.

"The president [of Besiktas] has made it quite clear he was in London, he was Instagramming pictures of himself in London Park yesterday.

"And he has been quoted in saying ‘If it’s in the best interests of the club, we will let him go’. So that’s one that might happen a bit later."

Amin Mohammad Jamali/GettyImages

With the Gunners having already spent over £70m this summer, it is understood that any more purchases will be dependent on player sales.

To this end, Calum Chambers joined Fulham on Tuesday and Arsenal are also attempting to shift Lucas Perez, who is closing in on a move to West Ham. The sale of Chambers could hint at a new centre back arriving before the deadline.

Vida has also been linked with a move to Liverpool, but Jurgen Klopp looks set to keep faith with Vida's international teammate Dejan Lovren, having effectively ruled out the possibility of any deadline day arrivals at Anfield.

With interest also reported from Italy and Spain, Besiktas are in a strong negotiating position, particularly as Vida's contract doesn't expire until 2022.