Arsenal 'agree to sign Omar Rekik from Hertha Berlin'

Arsenal have agreed a deal to sign young defender Omar Rekik from Hertha Berlin in the January transfer window, according to a report.

The 18-year-old was expected to sign in the summer transfer window, but a deal could not be reached, which in turn had an impact on William Saliba's projected return to Saint-Etienne on loan.

Saliba, who turned 19 in March, joined Arsenal in 2019 but spent last season back at Saint-Etienne and was expected to return on a temporary basis again for 2020-21 in order to aid his development, only for the deal to break down at the 11th hour.

According to football.london, a similar plan is in place for Rekik, who will sign for Arsenal in January and in all likelihood be loaned immediately back to Hertha until the end of the season.

Rekik has already represented Tunisia at senior level having played at youth level for the likes of Feyenoord, Manchester City, PSV and Marseille.

A highly-rated left-sided central defender, his older brother Karim Rekik left Hertha to join Sevilla on a five-year contract last summer.

Former Arsenal defender and current academy manager Per Mertesacker is felt to be at the heart of the deal, assuring Rekik he will get to train regularly with the first team should he sign.

The German has spearheaded a proactive recruitment strategy in the past year, signing no fewer than six young players to bolster a shrinking squad.