Report: Torreira, Sokratis set for Arsenal medicals

Lucas Torreira and Sokratis Papastathopoulos are apparently set for medicals at Arsenal ahead of deals that will collectively be worth around £42.6 million.

A fee of €20 million (£17.6 million) has been agreed with Borussia Dortmund for defender Sokratis, according to the Guardian's Ed Aarons and Fabrizio Romano, while Sampdoria midfielder Torreira, who's currently at the World Cup with Uruguay, should cost approximately £25 million.

Both Sokratis and Torreira were promptly identified as transfer targets in the wake of Unai Emery's appointment as Arsenal's manager in May.

"There was interest from (Manchester) United but he would have to wait for July, even if the two clubs (United and Dortmund) have excellent relations," Sokratis' father, Charalambos Papastathopoulos, said, as reported by Aarons and Romano. "He chose to go to Arsenal instead."

Sokratis made 28 league appearances for Dortmund last season, often partnering Omer Toprak in central defence. The 30-year-old may be regularly fielded alongside a fellow Greek in north London after Konstantinos Mavropanos, 20, joined in January.

Torreira was initially an energetic attacker in his native Uruguay, but his tenacity and range of passing were best deployed deeper in the lineup, where he attracted interest from Europe. He first joined Pescara as a youth player before inking terms with Sampdoria in 2015. Last season, he led his team for tackles won, fouls won, and most interceptions as he started 36 of 38 Serie A matches.

Arsenal completed the acquisitions of goalkeeper Bernd Leno and veteran full-back Stephan Lichtsteiner earlier this summer.