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Report: Arsenal look to bolster backline with Upamecano, Rugani queries

Matthias Kern / Bongarts / Getty

Arsenal are looking to end a busy summer transfer window with a bang.

The Gunners have reportedly probed the availability of RB Leipzig's Dayot Upamecano and Juventus' Daniele Rugani as the club looks to correct its defensive frailties, according to the Guardian's Fabrizio Romano and Ed Aarons.

French youth international Upamecano is the club's first choice, with Leipzig reportedly instructing Arsenal that a transfer fee in the neighborhood of £70 million would be required to sign the central defender. Reports in Germany claim Leipzig rejected a €60-million (£55M) offer for Upamecano from an unnamed club over the weekend.

Arsenal have also inquired about Rugani, with Romano and Aarons suggesting that the club has asked about a potential loan move for the Italian international. Juventus are understood to have appraised Rugani at £50 million.

Following Nicolas Pepe's £72-million move from Lille to north London last week, Arsenal have shifted their attention to a problematic central defensive core ahead of Thursday's transfer deadline.

Veteran Laurent Koscielny, meanwhile, is reportedly nearing a return to Ligue 1 with either Bordeaux or Rennes after refusing to join Unai Emery's charges for their U.S. preseason tour. Reports have also linked error-prone Shkodran Mustafi with a summer departure.

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