Arsenal are hoping to complete a deal for either Shkodran Mustafi or Jonny Evans before their Premier League campaign commences on Sunday against Liverpool, according to Adrian Kajumba of the Mirror.

The Gunners have been heavily linked with both defenders all summer, but it seemed as though they had ended their interest at one point. However, Gabriel Paulista’s injury – an injury that could keep him out of action for long – has forced them to rekindle their interest. With skipper Per Mertesacker pencilled in to return only in January 2017, Arsenal can be expected to make moves in the coming days.

Evans, 28, boasts Premier League experience and will likely not hamper the progress of youngsters Calum Chambers and Rob Holding as he will likely be demoted to the bench when experienced centre-back Laurent Koscielny regains full fitness after his extended vacation. Mustafi, 24, on the other hand, will prove a shrewd signing as he can go on to replace the ageing Mertesacker or Koscielny in the near future.

In the event of Arsenal failing to bring in defenders before the Liverpool game, a young centre-back partnership of Holding and Chambers will likely operate in front of Petr Cech unless Arsene Wenger chooses to deploy an experienced Mathieu Debuchy or a familiar face in Francis Coquelin as Chambers’ partner.

Arsenal are also scouring the market for strikers. After seeing Alexandre Lacazette sustain an injury to his hip against Paris Saint-Germain, they have seemingly turned to Inter Milan’s Mauro Icardi now, at least according to the English media.