FA Cup champions Arsenal have tabled a bid for Fenerbahce’s Danish International center-back Simon Kjaer.

According to a report in Turksvoetbal, the Gunners, along with Serie A giants AC Milan and Inter Milan, have tabled bids for the Danish International center-back. While the Italian sides have both offered Fenerbahce €10 million, Arsenal have offered them €12 million to part with Kjaer.

However, none of them have matched up with Fenerbahce’s valuation of the player. The report goes on to state that Kjaer has a €15 million release clause inserted into his contract and the Yellow Canaries will not let him go for anything lesser than that.

Kjaer was one of Fenerbahce’s best performers from the previous campaign and was a regular fixture in Dick Advocaat’s starting XI. He made 43 appearances across all competitions, scoring 3 goals and registering 1 assist and picking up only 4 bookings throughout the entire campaign.

Sweden's midfielder Emil Forsberg (R) and Denmark's defender Simon Kjaer vie for the ball during the Euro 2016 play-off football match between Sweden and Denmark at the Friends arena in Solna on November 14, 2015. AFP PHOTO/JONATHAN NACKSTRAND (Photo credit should read JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP/Getty Images)
Emil Forsberg (R) and Simon Kjaer(L) vie for the ball during the Euro 2016 play-off football match between Sweden and Denmark at the Friends arena in Solna on November 14, 2015. (Picture Credit – Getty Images)

Both the Milan sides and Arsenal have a common goal for next season – to qualify for the Champions League.Arsenal finished 5th, while Milan and Inter finished at 6th and 7th positions respectively and all of them have defensive woes to address within their respective squads.

For Arsenal, Per Mertesacker was out injured for most of the season and could make only 2 appearances. Gabriel hasn’t proved himself good enough to hold down a starting spot, Rob Holding is still growing as a player, while Calum Chambers is returning after a difficult season on loan.

Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi remain their most reliable center-backs and injuries to either of them could spell disaster for Arsenal. With Sead Kolasinac already signed for free, Wenger will certainly look to keep adding more quality to his defensive ranks.

Despite being resigned to spend a season in the Europa League, hey will no doubt look to challenge for all 4 trophies next term and needless to say, the Gunners will be need a lot of depth within their squad for what is set to be a very long season.

Standing at a towering 6’3, strong and good in the air, the Danish international wouldn’t find it too difficult to fit into the Premier League. For a mere €15 million, Kjaer, who has played in 6 different European leagues over the course of an 11-year-career could prove to be a superb signing and would certainly provide able cover and competition to Koscielny and Mustafi.

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