Arsenal are reportedly preparing to launch a £20 million bid for Porto defender Ricardo Pereira.
The Daily Star (via Metro) claims Arsene Wenger sees the Portugal international as suitable competition for Hector Bellerin, and the 23-year-old can also play on the opposite flank of the back four.
With reports suggesting Wenger is ready to offload both Carl Jenkinson and Mathieu Debuchy this month and Kieran Gibbs’ deal set to expire in summer 2018 with no signs of talks over a new contract taking place, the Frenchman is seeking defensive recruits.
Pereira is currently on his second consecutive loan spell at Ligue 1 club Nice, having struggled to secure a regular role at Porto.
The Portuguese full-back has made a total of 20 appearances for Nice this season, scoring one goal in the process.
This would be viewed as an intelligent signing by Wenger as he could solve two defensive problems with this proposed transfer.
