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It has been reported by Spanish football media outlet AS that Arsenal manager Unai Emery was in his native Spain over the weekend, scouting Getafe centre-back and Togolese international Djené Dakonam in a 0-0 draw with Valencia.

What’s the word, then?

Per the aforementioned report, despite their manager’s more recent scouting mission, the Gunners have had their eye on the 27-year-old for some time, since last summer in fact.

Then, they failed to meet the physical defender’s release clause of €35 million, but the rumours continue to swirl and after all, Emery is still watching Djene very closely indeed.

At the Coliseum Alfonso Perez the versatile 5ft 10in star has thrived, quickly becoming a first-team regular and to this date has made 66 appearances, with one goal to his name.

In 2018/2019, the Tongolese has been a mainstay of the Deep Blues’ backline as they’ve shocked Spain’s top division by sitting in fourth place with matches running out, meaning he’s attracted continued interest from the Premier League giants.

Stay away Arsenal

The Gunners currently have five first-team centre-backs with a whole host of players that can and do fill in when they’re required to, more than enough.

The bulk of them are above the age of 25 and vastly experienced not just in the Premier League, but across Europe’s top five leagues.

Therefore, if they anyone does depart, they need to be properly replaced with defenders who have real experience in the top five leagues of this continent, something Djene just doesn’t possess.

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Despite being 27, the powerful centre-back has only been a La Liga star for around a season-and-a-half and has no previous experience in one of Europe’s top five leagues.

Even if we do take his experience in the Spanish top flight into account, the league is still widely thought to be of a much lower quality to the English equivalent that he would have to get used to in north London.

For these reasons, while the versatility of the player who can also do a job in the right-back position will be appealing to Emery, Arsenal should stay away from a move for the Getafe man and look elsewhere if they’re wanting to bolster their central defence.