Arsenal outcast Pablo Mari wanted by Fenerbahce with defender not part of Mikel Arteta’s plans for this season

ARSENAL defender Pablo Mari has emerged as a target for Turkish side Fenerbahce - with the defender NOT part of Mikel Arteta's plans this season.

Turkish journalist Yagiz Sabuncuoglu has tweeted stating that the Spaniard is on the Istanbul club's shopping last as they look for a new centre back.

The 28-year-old joined Arsenal for £5million in the summer of 2020 after an initial six-month loan spell from Flamengo.

However in his two-and-a-half years at the Emirates, the Spaniard has played only 22 times for the club.

The defender spent the second half of last season on loan at Udinese in Italy, where he played 15 times on the way to a 12th place finish.

Mari is currently Arteta's fifth choice centre back at the club.

Ben White and Gabriel Magalhaes formed a solid partnership in front of Aaron Ramsdale last season as the Gunners came within two points of their first top four finish in six years.

William Saliba has returned from his loan spell at Marseille and the highly rated 21-year-old could finally challenge for some game time at the Emirates this season.

Rob Holding also looks likely to be ahead of Mari in the pecking order as things stand.

Fenerbahce will be able to offer the defender Champions League football, should he sign, after their second placed finish in the Turkish Super Lig last season.

FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS - BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS

The Yellow Canaries have been drawn against Dynamo Kiev in the second qualifying round for Europe's top tier competition.

Mari also spent three years on the books of Manchester City between 2016 and 2019.

However all three seasons were spent out on loan and he never made an appearance for the Citizens.