Arsenal are closing in on Athletic Bilbao defender Fernando Amorebieta.

Venezuelan defender Amorebieta's representative Gines Carvajal claims the Gunners have already held talks with the 27-year-old centre half.

Amorebieta is set to leave Bilbao in the summer and there has been interest from the Premier League and Russian big-spenders Anzhi.

Carvajal told a Russian newspaper: "We have had some contacts with Anzhi, they were ready to make a good offer, but my client wants to play in England, so the transfer to Russia was not possible.

"We are in talks with Arsenal, he could join them in June."