Arsenal Transfer News: Tyrone Mings Isn't the Impact Defender Gunners Need

Resolving Arsenal's back-line concerns this winter will be considered a priority for Arsene Wenger, and the club is reportedly keen on landing Ipswich Town defender Tyrone Mings.

According to the Mirror's John Cross, Arsenal scouts have already watched Mick McCarthy's man on multiple occasions this term, but the north Londoners will face competition from Chelsea:

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Mirror Sport revealed this week Chelsea have joined the long list of admirers for 21-year-old Mings as they look for a long-term successor for John Terry. Ipswich would want at least £10million for Mings with Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Everton and Newcastle also interested in him.

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Mings has played a key role for the Tractor Boys in their surge for playoff contention, earning rave reviews for his performances at left-back. However, Cross reports that Wenger would sign the 21-year-old with a view to converting him into a central defender.

It seems an odd choice of transfer strategy when Mings may not adapt well to such a change. At 6'3", he certainly has the physical dimensions needed for such a switch, but the Gunners need more specialised assets.

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Between them, Kieran Gibbs and Nacho Monreal have the left-back position well covered, but the effect of Laurent Koscielny's injury issues has highlighted Arsenal's need for options at centre-back.

So far this season, Arsenal have managed to keep only one clean sheet at home, conceding an average of 1.18 goals per game.

Mings would be a suitable signing in that he may not instantly threaten to break up Koscielny and Per Mertesacker's partnership upon the former's return to full fitness.

However, Wenger should be seeking players of a similar standard in order to emerge healthy competition, while Mings' prospect strikes as settling for a more realistic target.

It would represent a purchase of ease more than necessity. The signings of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil over the past 18 months have created huge hype at the Emirates Stadium, but the club now needs a similarly exciting acquisition at the back.

Mings stands out among Championship left-backs this season, and his eye for predicting play has been shown by WhoScored.com as being among the best in the division:

Having never played Premier League football, however, making the jump to Arsenal would be a massive challenge. Monreal and Calum Chambers have each done their part in filling in at centre-back for periods this season, such is the lack of depth in central defenders.

Cross does mention Mings' arrival could fall in conjunction with that of another centre-back, which would make his signing more agreeable.

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However, given how slow Wenger has been to add players in that part of his squad, supporters understandably may not get their hopes up to see so many arrive at once.

Chelsea are in a more suitable position to sign Ipswich Town's star, given that their need for instant defensive improvements isn't as dire.

Instead, Arsenal should be examining players who already have top-flight experience—at centre-back, no less—in the hopes that they can summon together a more elite crew at the core of their back line.