Arsenal manager Unai Emery has reportedly concluded plans to land Sevilla midfield star Ever Banega in January.
The 46-year-old tactician took over from Arsene Wenger as the Gunners head coach this summer and has already made some signings before the start of this current season.
He landed Stephan Lichtsteiner, Bernd Leno, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Lucas Torreira, Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi, and has made his former midfield star Banega his top priority.
Emery and Banega have a history after working together at Sevilla and Valencia while the tactician was still in Spain.
Daily Star quoting the Sun reports that Arsenal have made the Argentine their priority in what would be the first deal under new head of football Raul Sanllehi.
Banega joined Sevilla in the summer of 2017 in a three year deal valued at £6.30 million and his current deal will run out in 2020.
He has a release clause of £17.5m on his current deal with the Spanish club but has initially turned down a chance to join the Emirates Stadium outfit this summer.
However, Emery is reportedly desperate to lure the midfielder to the Premier League in the winter transfer window.
The Gunners manager is keen on adding Banega to his squad to create more competition among those already present.
The club recently handed Granit Xhaka a new long-term deal, while Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi were brought in from Sampdoria and Lorient respectively during the window.
"We are going to play Leno but each match we are going to look at each performance and each preparation," Emery said.
"I think Petr [Cech]'s performance is good and with Leno we signed him for now and to improve with us. We want him to go a long way here at Arsenal - he is young."
Emery will hope that Leno is more comfortable with the ball at his feet than Cech has looked in recent weeks.
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