Approaching the end of the summer transfer window, it's getting closer to crunch time for Arsenal fans.
Shkodran Mustafi appears as the latest target for Arsene Wenger and the club after missing out on Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez already this summer.
The Valencia defender was left on the bench for his side's La Liga opener at home to Las Palmas and was powerless to resist the visitors winning 4-2 despite coming on as a second-half substitute.
Some saw that as an indication that a reported £50 million move to the Emirates could be nearing completion.
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His manager Pako Ayestaran doesn't subscribe to that same theory.
But, in our view, Arsenal would be doing well if they were unable to sign Mustafi before the end of the transfer window - because there are better options out there.
Here we look at five centre back alternatives who are better players and represent better value for the Gunners:
VIRGIL VAN DIJK - SOUTHAMPTON
Van Dijk, at 25, is just a year older than Mustafi, but has already proven that he's good enough to play in the English Premier League and at the highest level in Europe too.
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He joined Southampton from Celtic in a £13million deal last summer and was an ever-present in Ronald Koeman's team as they finished sixth. It was no surprise he picked up the club's player of the year and earned a new six-year deal in May.
That long-term contract may put Southampton in a great bargaining position, but would they ask for £50m for van Dijk?
We doubt that! The Dutchman showed at Celtic he can cope just fine in Europe when playing against quality strikers and that should be more than enough to convince Arsenal fans he's a defender who could immediately slot into their defence and make them a better team. As ball-playing defenders go, van Dijk must be seen as one of the best in Europe.
MAMADOU SAKHO - LIVERPOOL
Sakho only makes the list after reports over the last day about Liverpool being keen to loan him out for this season. He's only just recovered from an achilles injury and the Anfield club are keen to get him games somewhere after he was forced to sit out the end of last season due to a UEFA doping ban.
Like van Dijk, Sakho has already shown he's a Premier League player and could be a better alternative to shelling out £50m in the final eight days of the transfer window for a player who isn't guaranteed to shine in England.
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Wenger could take Sakho for a year, get the best out of him and use that time to properly research a better defensive partner for Laurent Koscielny in the coming years.
WINSTON REID - WEST HAM
Reid has been linked with Arsenal before, but signing a long-term contract with West Ham last year suggested that move will never happen. The defender is another whose contract runs beyond 2020 and that could make life difficult for the Gunners.
But, again, would the Hammers demand £50m for him? We doubt that. Like the others on this list, Arsenal would be getting a ready-made Premier League player who has been impressive in every season he's played in the league.
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And it appears he was at one time interested in the move to the Emirates so that could help in negotiations. Arsenal need a no-nonsense defensive partner for Koscielny and Reid is exactly that.
JOSE FONTE - SOUTHAMPTON
It's surprising to see that Fonte has been regularly linked with Manchester United over recent weeks, while Arsenal appear to have more of a defensive problem on their hands.
Reports say Southampton have offered him a two-year deal to fend off the interest from Arsenal, but will that really stop the Portuguese defender getting the biggest move of his career so far?
Fonte is fresh off winning Euro 2016 with his country and, at 32, may want to cash in on his emergence as one of Europe's top defenders. That's reason enough for Arsenal to be interested.
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But, when you consider his age and the fact his existing Saints deal ends next May, he represents considerably better short-term value than Mustafi. Arsenal fans want results now and Fonte could help give them that over the next two years.
JAVI MARTINEZ - BAYERN MUNICH
Martinez is the only player to feature on this list who doesn't belong to an English Premier League club - but that shouldn't put Arsenal off.
The Spanish defender has been used in a few positions for Bayern Munich over recent seasons, yet has never really cemented one place in the team.
Once Carlo Ancelotti's men are at full strength, is he likely to beat Jerome Boateng or Mats Hummels to a centre back spot? Is he better than Thiago Alcantara, Renato Sanches, Arturo Vidal or Xabi Alonso in midfield? We're not so sure.
Arsenal may have to pay big money to get Martinez out of his Bayern deal, which runs until 2021. But the hope must be that signing a player who has won everything in football by the age of 27 represents better value than a player who couldn't stop Valencia finishing 12th in La Liga last season.
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