Arsenal make formal contact with Bayern Munich over Jerome Boateng transfer with Arteta desperate for the defender

ARSENAL have "made formal contact" with Bayern Munich over a transfer for Jerome Boateng, according to reports.

The German centre-back, 31, is valued at around £15.3million by the Bundesliga giants.

And Bayern are ready to move on the 2014 World Cup-winning defender, who has been criticised in recent seasons.

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According to ,  Bayern boss Hans-Dieter Flick is happy to let Boateng go with Benjamin Pavard, David Alaba and Javi Martinez ahead of him in the reckoning.

Mikel Arteta is keen to improve the quality of his options in defence, with the Gunners guilty of conceding too many shots on goal during Unai Emery's reign.

According to Bild last week, Arsenal may be able to get Boateng on a free if they pick up the tab on his wages, totalling just under £200,000-a-week.

Hakim Ziyech is another star the North London club have been linked with, with Ajax ready to sell their Moroccan star winger for £42.5m.

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Arteta's defensive headache was also made worse by the fact that Calum Chambers picked up a serious ACL injury that has ruled him out for at least nine months.

Munich are attempting to turn around their Bundesliga season after a poor start to the campaign that saw former boss Niko Kovac sacked in November.

They are currently third, four points behind leaders RB Leipzig and three points ahead of Borussia Dortmund.