Arsenal are reportedly winning the race to sign Freiburg's young defender, Matthias Ginter, ahead of Premier League rivals Manchester United, who are also interested in the up-and-coming centre back.

Ginter has been a long term target for Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and the French boss sent his chief scout, Steve Rowley, to assess the 20-year-old over the weekend, as the Daily Mirror reported.

Rowley would have certainly been impressed with Ginter's displays, as the youngster starred in a crucial away victory for the relegation-threatened Freiburg yesterday in the German Bundesliga.

Ginter, who recently earned his first senior cap for the German national side, has been identified as future stalwart of the Arsenal defence and is set of follow in the footsteps of compatriot Per Mertesacker.

Manchester United, who are expected to be without both Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand for next season, are also on the hunt for a new central defender and have been similarly impressed with Ginter's development in Germany.

However, Arsenal have a good relationship with Freiburg and are willing to meet their demands of £8 million for the assured defender. With Thomas Vermaelen expected to leave the Emirates Stadium in the summer, Ginter would be the perfect understudy for Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny.