According to Metro, Arsenal have locked horns with their rivals over a move for Ajax defender Toby Alderweireld, who has been targeted by multiple clubs across Europe, as the Londoners begin their push to improve the squad after heavy criticism from experts and fans alike.

The Gunners have been in negotiations over multiple deals since the past week, and as the clock runs down on the transfer window, there remains a shadow of doubt over the club’s negotiating prowess. At most clubs, the manager reports certain targets he feels are important to be signed in the window, and designates the responsibility of making a deal to the club chairman and board.

Arsene Wenger was promised funds at the beginning of the window, but has seen little being done with them, as they have lost multiple targets to clubs who have offered better deals to the player. Wenger is known to be a believer in not spending over and above a certain valuation that they assign to a player, but that has not worked in the manager’s favor this summer. The supporters are concerned about the inability of the club to sign star players, and have questioned their ambition in recent weeks.

This has added pressure on the manager and board alike, who must live up to the promise to spend earlier in the window. All other Barclays Premier League rivals have been spending heavily to improve the quality in their sides, and have seen several stars enter their clubs while Arsenal remain the only club to have not signed a senior experienced player.

Alderweirald is a budding defender at the Dutch club, who has seen several other clubs show interest in his signature. The Belgian has been rated highly by experts, and would add stability to the Arsenal defense. The 24-year old began his career at native side Germinal Beerschot, where he developed his game, and made the move to Ajax, where he has spent his entire career. In 124 league appearances for the Dutch giants, he has scored 7 goals, and also been a part of his national side.