Ajax centre-back Jan Vertonghen has expressed his desire to join Arsenal this summer.
The highly-rated Belgian has just one year to run on his contract and Ajax are expected to demand a fee in the region of £10 million for his services.
Arsene Wenger is a keen admirer of the 24-year-old defender with Tottenham and Newcastle also interested.
Vertonghen, who is a close friend of Thomas Vermaelen, was at the Emirates for Arsenal's Champions League tie against AC Milan earlier this month, according to the Daily Mail.
"Arsenal are a magnificent club and I hear a lot of good things about English football," Vertonghen said.
"If a club of Arsenal's calibre can reach agreement with Ajax, then I will gladly go over.
"I have instructed my agent carefully.
"He knows which clubs I want to join, and Arsenal are one of them."
Vertonghen added: "I haven't signed anything with them yet.
"But I went to watch them against Milan, together with my Ajax teammate Siem de Jong, after Vermaelen invited us. We had a few days off and profited from them."