Arsenal set to seal signing of Greece star

Arsenal are set to complete the signing of Sokratis Papastathopoulos this week, according to German magazine Kicker.

Reports suggest the Gunners have agreed a £16million fee to sign the Greek defender from Borussia Dortmund.

Papastathopoulos is expected in London to undergo a medical in the next couple of days and could become Unai Emery’s first signing since the Spaniard’s appointment as Arsenal manager.

Emery is keen to revamp the squad this summer and seems especially keen to beef up Arsenal’s defence, which looked vulnerable for much of last season.

Juventus full-back Stephan Lichtsteiner, who is out of contract this summer and therefore available on a Bosman free transfer, is also expected to move to the Emirates Stadium.

Sokratis, meanwhile, only has a year left on his contract at Dortmund and is set to move on after indicating that he wants to leave the German club.

The 29-year-old has been at Dortmund since being signed from Werder Bremen in 2013 and has made almost 200 appearances for them.

He has won 79 caps for his country, representing them at the 2012 European Championships and the 2014 World Cup.

Arsenal’s head of recruitment Sven Mislintat knows him well, having joined the Gunners from Dortmund.