Agreement reached: Arsenal reached agreement to sign £61million proper right-back after Lewis-Skelly agreed to join Real Madrid
Arsenal have made a surprise enquiry for Al-Nassr defender Aymeric Laporte, according to Spanish newspaper AS.
The Gunners are said to be among a number of European clubs showing initial interest in the former Manchester City star, along with his former club Athletic Bilbao, Marseille, Inter Milan and Aston Villa.
Laporte could return to Europe after a two-year spell in Saudi Arabia, where he earns a salary of £397,000 per week.
Al-Nassr reportedly want to recoup at least part of the €27.5m (£23.6m) they paid for the Champions League winner in the summer of 2023.
The 31-year-old defender made 180 appearances for City in total, scoring 12 goals and providing four assists, and lifted the Premier League title six times.
He has been a regular for Al-Nassr since joining, but endured an injury-hit 2024/25 campaign, making only 30 appearances across all competitions and scoring five goals.
Arsenal bolstered their back four last summer, signing Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna on a five-year deal.
They have also recently handed Gabriel Magalhaes a contract extension, prolonging his Emirates stay until the summer of 2029.
The Gunners have yet to announce their first piece of summer business, but are expected to confirm the arrivals of Martin Zubimendi and Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Zubimendi will join from Spanish club Real Sociedad for a reported fee of €60m (£51m), while Kepa’s £5m release clause in his Chelsea contract will be activated.
Arsenal are also believed to be targeting a first-choice striker, with Sporting Lisbon star Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig sensation Benjamin Sesko among their top options.
