Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has made £10m-rated Celtic defender Virgil van Dijk his top January transfer target after a recent scouting mission, according to reports.
The Gunners boss sent a spy to watch the 23-year-old in action at Dundee United last Sunday, claims The Sun.
Wenger is now set to approve a bid for the former Netherlands Under-21 international next month.
Arsenal have found themselves short of centre-halves so far this season, with left-back Nacho Monreal and right-back Mathieu Debuchy both required to fill in at centre-back on occasions.
Van Dijk is seen as both a useful alternative to Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny, who has struggled with injury this season, and a defender who can play out from the back to initiate the Gunners’ passing game.
