Summer break: Mertesacker enters the final year of his contract in July
Summer break: Mertesacker enters the final year of his contract in July
Match

Report: Arsenal to sign up defender, ready to immediately loan him out in January

Wayne Veysey
Wayne Veysey

Founder & Managing Director AUTHORITY Former chief correspondent at Evening Standard, Goal and Press Association with nearly three decades in national, regional and digital news and sports journalism. Wayne directs the network’s news strategy and high-level operations. FOCUS Editorial direction for the 11-site network and newsroom management. THE BRIEF Wayne oversees the network’s editorial standards across the network. He provides the final sign-off on all headline scoops, ensuring content across all platforms meets the standards required for a high-velocity newsroom.

Published on: 

By Harry Sykes

Per Mertesacker has agreed the terms of a new Arsenal contract, according to a report.

The Times claim the Gunners have reached an agreement with the club captain to extend his deal, which is due to expire in the summer, for a further 12 months.

This will keep former Germany international Mertesacker, 32, at Emirates Stadium until 2018.

It is said that Arsenal are willing to loan Mertesacker out to a European club at the end of the January transfer window when he is signed up if manager Arsene Wenger does not believe he will get much first-team action in the second half of the campaign.

The veteran centre-back has not yet played this season due to a knee injury sustained in pre-season and is still undergoing rehabilitation.

It is not yet clear when he will return to full fitness and, even when he does, the German will be behind Laurent Koscielny, Shkodran Mustafi and Gabriel Paulista in the pecking order for the central defensive roles.

Nevertheless, the £70,000-a-week defender is much admired by Wenger, who values his leadership and communication skills, and believes he can continue to be a role model for the club's young players.

Mertesacker joined Arsenal in 2011 and has been an immensely popular player during the last six years.

He retired from international football after winning the 2014 World Cup with Germany to prolong his club career.

In other Arsenal news, the club have agreed terms to sign up a second defender this month.

We’ve launched an << EXCLUSIVE TRANSFER WINDOW NEWS FEED>>. ‘Like Us’ on Facebook by clicking here if you want 24/7 updates on all Arsenal transfer news

Arsenal
Per Mertesacker
www.footballinsider247.com