Gunners join race for Schalke defender

Arsenal are set to join Liverpool in the race to sign Schalke defender Kyriakos Papadopolus in January, according to the Express.

The 21 year old was heavily linked with a move to Anfield during the summer; with some reports suggesting a deal had already been agreed, subject to a medical as the Greece international recovered from a knee injury.

However, with the Reds having brought in three alternative options in central defence, the path could be clear for the Gunners to swoop.

Manager Arsene Wenger is desperately short of numbers at the heart of his defence, with Thomas Vermaelen, Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny his only options.

Papadopoulos rejected a £16m move to Zenit St Petersburg last summer; though it is thought that £11m will be enough to secure a deal with the Bundesliga side when the transfer window reopens.

The former Olympiakos defender made just ten league appearances during the 2012/13 campaign, and is yet to feature for the club this season.