Mikel Arteta is planning a specific transfer with two candidates in the race for the post.

According to sources, Arsenal has two players on their list of transfer targets to fill a specific role for Mikel Arteta.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is looking to strengthen his squad’s adaptability ahead of the club’s return to Champions League action. The Spaniard is looking for a defender who can play many roles and has already scouted Mohamed Simakan and Devyne Rensch.

For the first time since 2017, Arsenal has returned to Europe’s best club tournament. Their Premier League title hopes were dashed in front of their eyes, but Arteta is still eager to build on a successful season.

The Gunners will prioritize strengthening their midfield. Declan Rice of West Ham remains their primary target, with Moises Caicedo and Ilkay Gundogan also on their radar.

However, he could make at least one defensive addition. Arteta settled on a favored back four of Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel, and Oleksandr Zinchenko once everyone was fit.

However, there was a noticeable drop-off when Rob Holding was forced to deputize for the injured Saliba, and Zinchenko also struggled with fitness during the year. According to CBS Sports, Arteta wants to kill two birds with one stone by signing a player who can play full-back and in the middle of defense.

Simakan of RB Leipzig is capable of doing precisely that. According to transfermarkt.co.uk, the 23-year-old has played 78 times at centre-back and 34 times at right-back in his career.

Meanwhile, Ajax star Rensch, 20, has played less senior games. The majority of his experience in the Ajax first team has been at right-back, although as a teenager going through the academy, he frequently played in the centre of defense and is equally comfortable on his left foot at left-back if needed.

Both Holding and Tierney have been linked with moves away from Arsenal this summer. Despite the signing of Jakub Kiwior in January, this might leave the Gunners short at the back.

Simakan, a France youth international, began his career with Strasbourg before joining Leipzig in 2021. In 78 games with the Bundesliga club, he has four goals and nine assists.

Rensch made his senior debut for Ajax in November 2020 after progressing through the Eredivisie club’s levels. Both players have played in the Champions League with their respective teams, which many members of Arsenal’s squad do not have.