Loic Perrin and the 3 Centre-Backs Arsenal Should Sign to Boost Their Defence

Arsenal are in dire need of a new centre-back this January, and there are plenty of options that could boost their defence significantly.

With injuries hampering manager Arsene Wenger's defensive options even further, Tom Sheen of The Independent reports an interesting concession from the 65-year-old.

Wenger lamented that centre-back "is a position where we are short."

Arsenal's only established centre-backs are Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny, with full-backs Nacho Monreal, Mathieu Debuchy and Calum Chambers filling in when required this season.

Finally, Wenger seems ready to bolster his centre-back ranks.

AS Saint-Etienne man Loic Perrin tops the list, but who else makes our list of three centre-backs Arsenal should sign to boost their faltering defence this January? 

Nicolas N'Koulou (Olympique Marseille)

Martin Rose/Getty Images

Olympique Marseille centre-back Nicolas N'Koulou would offer Arsenal an instant boost and would represent a long-term successor for the 30-year-old Mertesacker.

N'Koulou, 24, has been a consistent, impressive performer under Marcelo Bielsa this season as Marseille enjoy a fierce title fight.

The defender makes two tackles per game on average, more than both Koscielny (1.3) and Mertesacker (0.9), but he also reads the game extremely well. The Cameroon international boasts 3.1 interceptions per game.

Linked with a move to West Ham United last month by Simon Jones of the Daily Mail, N'Koulou would offer a strong defensive base with the potential to become a true great at Arsenal.

Jores Okore (Aston Villa)

Clive Mason/Getty Images

After missing the majority of the 2013/14 season with a knee ligament rupture, Jores Okore has slowly come to the fore at Aston Villa this term.

Okore is a strong, physical talent with great aerial ability and supreme recovery speed.

For all of Villa's struggles in front of goal this season, the side have conceded just seven in his 10 league appearances. Meanwhile, Paul Lambert's side have allowed 15 in 11 games played without him, highlighting his defensive superiority.

At just 22 years old, with growing Premier League experience, Okore would offer a solid rotational option in Arsenal's defence with a view to a long-term first-team role. 

Loic Perrin (AS Saint-Etienne)

Thibault Camus/Associated Press

Saint-Etienne defender Perrin is perhaps the most likely to move to the Emirates Stadium this January.

According to Ed Malyon of the Daily Mirror, the 29-year-old recently claimed that "if I were to leave [ASSE] it would be to take the next step. And when you talk about Arsenal, you’re not talking about any old club."

Malyon also reports contact between the club and Perrin's agent, but no concrete talks with the Ligue 1 side.

A comparable defensive talent to Arsenal's current incumbents, Perrin would bring a no-nonsense approach sometimes missing with the Gunners, with his 9.6 clearances per game more than that of Koscielny (4.4) and Mertesacker (4.7) combined.

A committed, ready-made option, Perrin would be a wise signing for Wenger at Arsenal.

Statistics via WhoScored.com.

Follow @LusbyLatest