Arsenal turn to £10m Germany star to solve defensive crisis

Sol Campbell is heading towards Newcastle - leaving Arsenal ready to turn to Per Mertesacker to solve their defensive crisis.

Arsene Wenger was confident of signing 35-year-old Campbell on a one-year deal but newly-promoted Newcastle made an 11th hour move to snatch the ex-England defender.

10 things you need to know about Per Mertesacker plus watch him in action  

Gunners boss Wenger is now left in the lurch and has quickly moved for Germany World Cup defender Mertesacker to bolster his squad.

Wenger watched the 25-year-old Werder Bremen centre half in South Africa and Arsenal believe there is a £10m deal to be done as Mertesacker only has two years left on his current contract.

Mertesacker has now emerged as their first choice as Everton knocked back two bids - including a £14m offer - for Phil Jagielka , telling Arsenal he is not for sale at any price.

Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis is hoping to tie up a deal for Mertesacker with Wenger now desperately short of defensive options.

That has meant Arsenal also have a back-up plan which includes Ajax's Jan Vertonghen and Dynamo Kiev's Senegalese defender Pape Diakhate who is keen on a move to England.

Arsenal have already spent £8m on Laurent Koscielny and have Thomas Vermaelen and Johan Djourou. They will also offer Norwegian youngster Havard Nordtveit, 19, a long term contract and promote him to the first team squad.

As it stands, Vermaelen and Koscielny are the first choice pairing but if they can bring in Mertesacker then the German would give them real stability after the departures of Campbell, William Gallas, Philippe Senderos and Mikael Silvestre this summer.

A big-name signing would ease growing unrest behind the scenes after Wenger's lack of activity in the transfer market as Koscielny and Marouane Chamakh are the only new arrivals with Fulham veteran Mark Schwarzer their number one keeper target.

The board is acutely aware of the fans being restless but the club believe they have won the battle to keep Cesc Fabregas despite Barcelona's best efforts.

Fabregas will be at Arsenal's photocall and open training session for 10,000 fans on Thursday week when he returns to the club next week and that will be the clearest sign yet that he is definitely staying.

Arsenal left back Gael Clichy is also set to stay despite interest from Juventus as the French international does not want to leave for Italy despite the Turin club being keen on a move involving Brazil midfielder Felipe Melo.