Arsenal are reportedly considering triggering Espanyol defender Mario Hermoso's €40m (£35m) release clause when the January transfer window opens.
Hermoso's form in La Liga has earned him a maiden call-up to the Spain national team for the upcoming matches against Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, in addition to attracting interest from a number of European clubs.
Real Madrid are understood to be leading the race for his signature and would be able to sign him for just €7.5m (£6.5m) should they activate a buy-back clause which was included in the initial deal to take him to Espanyol last year.
However, Marca reports that Arsenal boss Unai Emery is also highly interested in the 23-year-old and would be willing to pay the full release clause in order to land him in January.
Half of that fee would go to Madrid anyway due to another clause in the contract, despite Hermoso leaving Los Blancos without making a single senior appearance for the club.
Hermoso has played every minute of Espanyol's league campaign so far this season, scoring two goals and keeping five clean sheets in the process.
Barney Corkhill
