Arsenal book medical for €17m ace

According to German outlet Kicker, Sokratis Papastathopoulos will undergo his medical at Arsenal this week.

The Gunners are reportedly close to sealing a €17 million fee for the Borussia Dortmund defender, with the 29-year-old set to become Unai Emery’s first Gunners signing.

Sokratis only has a year left on his contract with the Bundesliga outfit and wants to leave this summer.

He has agreed terms with Arsenal and could now become Unai Emery's first signing.

The 29-year-old Greek international has been at Dortmund since joining from Werder Bremen in 2013.

During that period he has played 198 times for the Yellow and Black and won the DFB Cup and lifted the Super Cup twice.

He has 79 caps for the national team, representing them at Euro 2012 and the 2014 World Cup.

Arsenal's new head of recruitment Sven Mislintat, who joined from Dortmund, wants to overhaul the defence with as many as four new defenders targeted.

Out of contract Juventus full-back Stephan Lichtsteiner is also on the verge of completing his move to North London.