Arsenal Transfer News: Latest Kalidou Koulibaly, Tom Rogic Rumours

Kalidou Koulibaly is reportedly the next target in Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger's sights after the transfer of midfielder Granit Xhaka from Borussia Monchengladbach.

Wenger wants Senegal and Napoli centre-back Koulibaly to partner Laurent Koscielny next season, according to Jeremy Wilson of the Daily Telegraph:

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Koulibaly, who is a 24-year-old Senegal international, is also among Chelsea and Manchester United’s potential targets but Arsenal intend to strengthen at centre-back following mixed performances last season from Per Mertesacker and Gabriel. Mertesacker has only one more year remaining on his contract while Arsenal will be conscious that Laurent Koscielny, who is the clear first choice central defender, is now also into his 30s.

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Wilson also stated how £20 million may be enough to secure the services of one of this season's best defenders in Serie A.

There's no doubt the Gunners need a revamp at the heart of their defence in time for next season. Wenger's men may have conceded the second-fewest goals in England's top flight, per the Premier League's official site, but the defence was rarely trustworthy when it mattered.

The suspect nature of things at the back was obvious during a 3-2 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford in February, when teenage striker Marcus Rashford toyed with Arsenal's defence.

This was followed by a 2-1 home loss to Swansea City when the Gunners' soft middle was exposed for both goals. April saw Arsenal's central defenders bullied by towering striker Andy Carroll in a 3-3 draw with West Ham United.

All three results put paid to Arsenal's title hopes, and each time the problem was clear. The Gunners lacked the necessary athleticism and aggression in the middle of their back four.

Per Mertesacker's lack of pace is well-known, but it was Brazilian Gabriel who disappointed most, frequently losing the physical battles.

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Getting outmuscled on the deck or beaten in the air are not things that happen to Koulibaly often, as statistics from FourFourTwo's Adam Digby in March helped show:

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Known as "K2", Koulibaly stands a mountainous 6ft 5in tall and is a robust, physically imposing central defender. He’s won an average of 2.8 headed duels per game across his 26 Serie A appearances in 2015/16, just one of a number of categories where the 24 year old is recording career-best statistics.

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A centre-back who won't lose the aerial duels is still a must in England's top flight, even in football's modern era. Wenger needs a talisman at the back who can close off one means of attack and make opponents one-dimensional.

Koulibaly can be that figure, but he won't come cheap. Not when London rivals Chelsea are ready to pay €40 million to win the race for his signature, per Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Lucas Sposito of Sport Witness).

Given the competition, it's smart for Wenger to consider some Koulibaly alternatives. No doubt that's why Arsenal have run the rule over Atletico Madrid's Lucas Hernandez, according to the Daily Mirror's Ben Burrows.

But being able to offer UEFA Champions League football next season may give Arsenal the edge among the suitors for Koulibaly. He is a player whose reputation is growing. Testing himself at the highest level in Europe is the best way to improve it further.

Celtic Playmaker on Wenger's Radar

He may have already added Xhaka, but Wenger might not be done refreshing his squad's midfield. In fact, the 66-year-old is reportedly "optimistic" about signing Celtic's Tom Rogic, a midfield playmaker who would cost the Gunners "£7 [million]," per Mark Irwin of the Sun.

Arsenal are credited with "leading the chase" for Rogic after scout Brian McDermott "recommended" the Australian schemer to Wenger, according to the Sydney Morning Herald's Dominic Bossi.

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His report also stated the Gunners have "been in pursuit of the player for almost a year," with the club continuing to "monitor his progress" this season.

So the interest appears strong, even if it's easy to ask why Arsenal need another playmaker when Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla, Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere are still on the books.

Yet, the latter is injury prone, while Ramsey has had his own troubles staying fit and Cazorla is now 31. It's also true to say getting goals from central-midfield areas has been an issue for Wenger's team, with Ozil's six the most any Arsenal midfielder managed in the league, per the club's official site.

It's a problem Rogic might help solve after netting nine times for the Hoops in the 2015/16 season, according to ESPN FC. This would be the type of under-the-radar signing that used to be Wenger's go-to move during a transfer window.

With Mikel Arteta, Mathieu Flamini and Tomas Rosicky all leaving, as well as the injury concerns regarding many incumbents, Wenger must be serious about retooling his midfield.

But his bigger priority has to be toughening up a defence that crumbled at the costliest times during a frustrating 2015/16 campaign.