Arsenal were close to signing Besiktas defender Domagoj Vida last summer, it has been revealed.

Aksam says they were on the brink of signing Croatia World Cup star Vida before pulling out of the deal when Besiktas demanded David Ospina in return.

The Gunners submitted a £10m bid for the 29-year-old, who played every minute for the World Cup runners-up on their route to the final, where they lost to France.

Vida only joined Besiktas last January

But the deal collapsed when Besiktas asked for goalkeeper Ospina as part of the move.

No other subsequent offers matched those submitted by Unai Emery's side, leading to Vida remaining at Vodafone Park.

The Super Lig side were desperate for a goalkeeper after allowing Fabricio to join Fulham and Denys Boyko to move to Dynamo Kiev - but ended the summer transfer window empty handed.

The arrival of Bernd Leno led to Arsenal eventually allowing Ospina to leave the club on a season-long loan to Napoli.