Werder Bremen are closing in on the signing of former Manchester United and Arsenal defender Mikael Silvestre.

The 33-year-old is a free agent after leaving the Gunners in the summer.

"We are in promising talks, it looks like Silvestre is coming to us," Bremen sporting director Klaus Allofs told Kicker.

The German side are in need of defensive reinforcements, having lost 4-1 to Hoffenheim in their opening game of the Bundesliga season last weekend.

Silvestre spent nine years at Old Trafford between 1999 and 2008 after signing from Inter Milan, winning four Premier League titles, the Champions League and the FA Cup.

The former France international joined Arsenal in 2008 but left the club this summer.