As revealed by Goal.com in January, the Premier League outfit are interested in the 27-year-old centre-back but will now have to wait until the summer after failing last month

Arsenal are in talks to sign Athletic Bilbao defender Fernando Amorebieta on a free transfer at the end of the season, according to the player’s agent.

Goal.com exclusively revealed on January 31 that Gunners boss Arsene Wenger hoped to bring the centre-back to the club in January, along with Nacho Monreal.

Arsenal failed to agree a deal before the transfer window shut, but are seemingly still keen to recruit the player following the conclusion of his contract at the end of June, although his representative Gines Carvajal has revealed they face competition from a number of other clubs.

Carvajal told Izvestia: “We have had some contacts with Anzhi [Makhachkala], they were ready to make a good offer, but my client wants to play in England, so the transfer to Russia was not possible.

“We are in talks with Arsenal, he could join them in June.”

The 27-year-old has played over 250 games for Bilbao, and looks to join Fernando Llorente, who has agreed to join Juventus, in leaving the club on a Bosman at the end of the season.