Unai Emery makes decision on Arsenal transfer move for £27m defender Domagoj Vida

Unai Emery makes decision on Arsenal transfer move for £27m defender Domagoj Vida

Arsenal have opted against pursuing a deadline day move for Croatia defender Domagoj Vida after Unai Emery told the club he was happy with his defensive options, reports say.

The Gunners enjoyed a productive start to the transfer window, signing Bernd Leno, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi earlier in the summer.

They have continued to be linked with a number of players, however, and Besiktas defender Vida has been the subject of interest from the north London outfit.

The 29-year-old impressed at this summer's World Cup in Russia and Arsenal were said to be weighing up a £27million offer to bring him to the Emirates.

But the Evening Standard say a deal is now unlikely as Emery has indicated he is satisfied with his current centre-back options, which include Shkodran Mustafi, Rob Holding, Konstantinos Mavropanos and summer arrival Sokratis.

There could yet be some outgoings at Arsenal on deadline day, however, with Danny Welbeck and David Ospina strongly linked with departures from the Emirates.

Unai Emery makes decision on Arsenal transfer move for £27m defender Domagoj Vida

England international Welbeck was reportedly told he could be sold by Emery earlier in the week, while Ospina is said to have agreed personal terms over a move to Turkey.

If Welbeck is offloaded by Arsenal, it is likely that he will stay in the Premier League, with Southampton and Everton known admirers of the forward.

Arsenal begin the 2018-19 campaign with a home match against reigning champions Manchester City on Sunday.

The Gunners finished sixth last season and reached the Europa League semi-final in what was Arsene Wenger's final campaign at the helm.

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