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Report: Umtiti, Alaba top Emery's Arsenal transfer wishlist

Richard Heathcote / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Arsenal manager Unai Emery is reportedly looking to address enduring defensive shortcomings at the Emirates with a pair of high-profile summer additions.

Bayern Munich full-back David Alaba and Barcelona central defender Samuel Umtiti top the Spaniard's summer shortlist as part of a potential five-player haul, according to The Independent's Miguel Delaney.

Alaba, 26, and World Cup winner Umtiti, 25, represent ambitious gets for the north London lot, though Arsenal are confident they can pry the duo from their respective clubs, according to Delaney.

Austrian international Alaba, who joined the Bavarian behemoths' youth setup in 2008 and is under contract at the club until 2021, could be a victim of Bayern's potential €300-million squad revamp. Similarly, Umtiti could become surplus to requirements in the Catalan capital after losing his spot alongside Gerard Pique to countryman Clement Lenglet. Barcelona are also reportedly the front-runners to sign Ajax center-half Matthijs de Ligt in the summer.

Despite a 12-point improvement this season with Emery compared to the same juncture last term under Arsene Wenger, Arsenal have shown flashes of a continued penchant for defensive blunders. A season-ending injury to Rob Holding and Shkodran Mustafi's error-prone showings have magnified the need for fresh blood, as have the impending career climaxes for Laurent Koscielny and Nacho Monreal.

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