Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Valencia defender Shkodran Mustafi is a potential transfer target for the Gunners.
Arsenal lost Per Mertesacker and Gabriel to injury in preseason and Wenger has been expected to purchase an experienced reinforcement to add to the signing of Bolton youngster Rob Holding.
Mustafi has been linked with a big-money move to the Gunners and Wenger has admitted that the 24-year-old Germany international is a player under consideration.
"Listen, we have a good few options," Wenger told French TV channel SFR Sport following Arsenal's 0-0 draw at Leicester on Saturday. "He's one of them but it's being negotiated behind the scenes."
With Arsenal's title rivals spending heavily, Wenger has been under pressure to do likewise.
But he maintains that this summer it has been hard to find players who are available, good enough, and would represent value for money.
"It's not my money, first of all," he said. "Spending money is good but it's not enough.
"You have to spend money on excellent players. We're having a lot of trouble identifying them. And then on the other hand you still have to be responsible.
"We're a company of 600 people at the moment. You have to pay everyone at the end of the month so you can't do just anything."