Exclusive: Arsenal Ready £12m January Bid For Everton Rock

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Gunners to move for Toffees star again, more than three years after original bid was rejected.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has reignited his interest in signing Everton defender Phil Jagielka.

The Gunners lodged a failed bid of £10m for the former Sheffield United star in July 2011, with the Toffees then demanding a transfer fee of £18m.

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Jagielka has almost three years left to run on his current contract at Goodison Park, having penned an extension in January 2013.

Despite being tied to Everton until June 2017 and having become a regular international, with 31 senior England caps to his name, Jagielka’s age means that his value has lowered since the Gunners last came calling.

Arsenal are hopeful that an offer of £12m will be sufficient to persuade Everton to sell the 32-year-old in January.

The Gunners are rather short of central defensive options, with first-choice pairing Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker being the only recognised centre-backs at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal’s 4-1 win over Galatasaray last month would suggest that Wenger’s men are likely to begin the New Year in three competitions – the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League.

Wenger is keen to acquire some cover for Koscielny and Mertesacker to give the club the best possible chance of adding to their trophy cabinet, which went nine years without new silverware prior to May’s FA Cup triumph over Hull City.

Jagielka is believed to be very interested in a move to North London.

He has become good friends with Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere through England duty.

Wenger is confident that Wilshere’s recommendation, coupled with a modest pay-rise and the promise of Champions League football, will be enough to convince Manchester-born Jagielka to move to the South of England for the first time in his career.

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