Arsenal are interested in signing RB Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano with Unai Emery hoping to add to his squad ahead of Thursday's transfer deadline.

Having wrapped up the club-record signing of Nicolas Pepe from Lille for £72 million last week, the Spaniard is looking for defensive reinforcements.

Standard Sport understands that Gunners coach wants to sign the 20-year-old ahead of Thursday's transfer deadline, with Juventus defender Daniele Rugani also a possible target.

Arsenal have already signed William Saliba from St-Etienne, although the Gunners have loaned the defender back to the Ligue 1 club for the 2019-20 campaign.

Here's what we know so far...

In pictures | Arsenal's 10 most expensive signings 11 show all In pictures | Arsenal's 10 most expensive signings 1/11 Arsenal have finally completed the signing of Nicolas Pepe. Here is where he ranks in the list of the club's 10 most expensive signings... Arsenal FC via Getty Images 2/11 10 Name: Bernd Leno

From: Bayer Leverkusen

Fee: £22m Getty Images 3/11 9 Name: Lucas Torreira

From: Sampdoria

Fee: £26.5m Arsenal FC via Getty Images 4/11 8 Name: William Saliba

From: St-Etienne

Fee: £27m Arsenal FC via Getty Images 5/11 7 Name: Alexis Sanchez

From: Barcelona

Fee: £32m Arsenal FC via Getty Images 6/11 6 Name: Granit Xhaka

From: Borussia Monchengladbach

Fee: £34m Arsenal FC via Getty Images 7/11 5 Name: Shkodran Mustafi

From: Valencia

Fee: £35m AFP/Getty Images 8/11 4 Name: Mesut Ozil

From: Real Madrid

Fee: £42m AFP/Getty Images 9/11 3 Name: Alexandre Lacazette

From: Lyon

Fee: £52m Arsenal FC via Getty Images 10/11 2 Name: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

From: Borussia Dortmund

Fee: £56m Arsenal FC via Getty Images 11/11 1 Name: Nicolas Pepe

From: Lille

Fee: £72m Arsenal FC via Getty Images 1/11 Arsenal have finally completed the signing of Nicolas Pepe. Here is where he ranks in the list of the club's 10 most expensive signings... Arsenal FC via Getty Images 2/11 10 Name: Bernd Leno

From: Bayer Leverkusen

Fee: £22m Getty Images 3/11 9 Name: Lucas Torreira

From: Sampdoria

Fee: £26.5m Arsenal FC via Getty Images 4/11 8 Name: William Saliba

From: St-Etienne

Fee: £27m Arsenal FC via Getty Images 5/11 7 Name: Alexis Sanchez

From: Barcelona

Fee: £32m Arsenal FC via Getty Images 6/11 6 Name: Granit Xhaka

From: Borussia Monchengladbach

Fee: £34m Arsenal FC via Getty Images 7/11 5 Name: Shkodran Mustafi

From: Valencia

Fee: £35m AFP/Getty Images 8/11 4 Name: Mesut Ozil

From: Real Madrid

Fee: £42m AFP/Getty Images 9/11 3 Name: Alexandre Lacazette

From: Lyon

Fee: £52m Arsenal FC via Getty Images 10/11 2 Name: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

From: Borussia Dortmund

Fee: £56m Arsenal FC via Getty Images 11/11 1 Name: Nicolas Pepe

From: Lille

Fee: £72m Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Who wants to sign him?

As it stands, Arsenal are the only team interested in signing the French defender.

Manchester United were credited with an interest earlier this summer, but the Red Devils have since signed Harry Maguire from Leicester in an £80 million deal.

Bild also claimed Bayern Munich wanted the highly-rated centre-back before deciding to move for Lucas Hernandez, giving Arsenal a clear run at signing Upamecano.

Is a deal close and does Upamecano want to join?

It's still early days, with Arsenal at this stage only making an enquiry for the France Under-21 international.

Given their limited transfer budget for the forthcoming season, it is understood the Gunners would be more interested in a loan deal.

Considering the fact that Leipzig are in the Champions League this season after finishing third in the Bundesliga, it may be difficult to tempt Upamecano away from Die Roten Bullen, where he features regularly under coach Julian Nagelsmann.

But the lure of playing alongside compatriots Matteo Guendouzi and Alexandre Lacazette could tempt the towering centre-half should the Gunners follow up on their interest.

How much will he cost?

The Sun claim that Upamecano has an £89m release clause written in his contract and the German club will want a fee that reflects his promise and ability.

Leipzig are thought to want £50m up-front for the defender, a fee that would prove difficult given Emery's budget.

However, Arsenal could fund the move with funds raised from the sales of Shkodran Mustafi and Laurent Koscielny.

The defensive pair are likely to leave the Emirates, with Koscielny close to returning to France while Mustafi's place is under threat after a series of below-par performances.

Is he Arsenal's first choice?

It's easy to forget that Arsenal have already signed a centre-back for next season with William Saliba arriving from Saint Etienne for £27m.

The 18-year-old is, however, spending the 2019-20 season back on loan with the Ligue 1 club, and so the Europa League runners-up need another defender for the forthcoming season.

In Pictures | Barcelona vs Arsenal, Joan Gamper Trophy | 04/08/2019 42 show all In Pictures | Barcelona vs Arsenal, Joan Gamper Trophy | 04/08/2019 1/42 Getty Images 2/42 AP 3/42 REUTERS 4/42 Getty Images 5/42 AFP/Getty Images 6/42 Getty Images 7/42 EPA 8/42 REUTERS 9/42 AP 10/42 AFP/Getty Images 11/42 REUTERS 12/42 REUTERS 13/42 AP 14/42 Getty Images 15/42 AP 16/42 REUTERS 17/42 Getty Images 18/42 Getty Images 19/42 AP 20/42 AFP/Getty Images 21/42 Getty Images 22/42 Getty Images 23/42 AFP/Getty Images 24/42 Getty Images 25/42 AFP/Getty Images 26/42 EPA 27/42 AFP/Getty Images 28/42 AFP/Getty Images 29/42 REUTERS 30/42 EPA 31/42 Getty Images 32/42 EPA 33/42 Arsenal FC via Getty Images 34/42 AFP/Getty Images 35/42 AP 36/42 AFP/Getty Images 37/42 AFP/Getty Images 38/42 Arsenal FC via Getty Images 39/42 Arsenal FC via Getty Images 40/42 REUTERS 41/42 Arsenal FC via Getty Images 42/42 Arsenal FC via Getty Images 1/42 Getty Images 2/42 AP 3/42 REUTERS 4/42 Getty Images 5/42 AFP/Getty Images 6/42 Getty Images 7/42 EPA 8/42 REUTERS 9/42 AP 10/42 AFP/Getty Images 11/42 REUTERS 12/42 REUTERS 13/42 AP 14/42 Getty Images 15/42 AP 16/42 REUTERS 17/42 Getty Images 18/42 Getty Images 19/42 AP 20/42 AFP/Getty Images 21/42 Getty Images 22/42 Getty Images 23/42 AFP/Getty Images 24/42 Getty Images 25/42 AFP/Getty Images 26/42 EPA 27/42 AFP/Getty Images 28/42 AFP/Getty Images 29/42 REUTERS 30/42 EPA 31/42 Getty Images 32/42 EPA 33/42 Arsenal FC via Getty Images 34/42 AFP/Getty Images 35/42 AP 36/42 AFP/Getty Images 37/42 AFP/Getty Images 38/42 Arsenal FC via Getty Images 39/42 Arsenal FC via Getty Images 40/42 REUTERS 41/42 Arsenal FC via Getty Images 42/42 Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Upamecano appears to be Emery's favoured target but if he proves to be unaffordable, the club have asked about the availability of Juventus defender Rugani on loan.