Arsenal set to bid for Van Dijk

Arsenal are readying an £8m offer for Celtic defender Virgil van Dijk, according to the Metro.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger sent scouts to cast an eye over the 23 year old as the Scottish champions played Dinamo Zagreb two weeks ago, and received a glowing report of the centre-backs performance.

Van Dijk moved to Glasgow from Dutch side Groningen last summer, and has since racked sixty-two appearances in all competitions, scoring seven goals while internationally he has been capped three times at U21 level.

Calum Chambers and Mathieu Debuchy were added by Wenger in the close season, though with the latter out injured until December, the North London side remain desperately short at the back.

Arsenal currently sit in eighth place in the Premier League and are nine points behind leaders Chelsea ahead of Saturday’s home match against the team they beat in last season’s FA Cup final – Hull City.