Schalke right back Atsuto Uchida has reportedly been lined up as a long-term replacement for Bacary Sagna.

The French defender is entering the final year of his contract with no new deal in the offing.

Consequently, manager Arsene Wenger has been seeking a successor and has identified Uchida to be an understudy to Sagna this season, and a long-term competitor for Carl Jenkinson.

The Japan international has 60 caps and has been a regular for Schalke since signing in 2010.