Sky Sports believe Arsenal are lining up a move for highly-rated Sevilla midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia, the French U20 international who also has impressed during the U20 World Cup.
He enjoyed a hugely successful season with Sevilla last year, playing 37 matches in all competitions and starting 23 La Liga matches.
Versatile midfielder
The 20-year-old is primarily a defensive midfielder but is equally adept to playing as a central midfielder in a double pivot role.
Real Madrid and Chelsea have shown an interest in him but that appears to have cooled as they have sounded out other players.
With Sevilla failing to qualify for Europe next season, Arsene Wenger could tempt the youngster with European football. He demanded a first team place at Sevilla last season and could do the same in North London, if he is to join Arsenal.
More defensive midfielders
He isn’t the only defensive midfielder Arsenal have been linked with though, Junior Malanda is being linked with a move to the Premier League especially as he is now a free agent.
The 18-year-old Belgium Under-21 star went AWOL from his club Zulte Waregem last week and now that his contract has expired, according to him anyway, he is free to join an English club.
January deal stalled
He was linked with a move to Fulham in January but they refused to pay the £6 million fee wanted by Zulte so the deal ended.
He has been hailed the new Marouane Fellaini and although whomever he joins will have to pay a small compensation fee at a Belgian tribunal, it will be a low amount.
Law 78
Malanda has uterlised the Belgian labour law known as Law 78. This law allows players in Belgium to free themselves from a contract and sign for any club from another country.
The law is in place to stop players in Belgium leaving their parent club to join better Belgian clubs for a small fee but it allows clubs from other countries to pinch talent.
Bundesliga or Premier League
Malanda confirmed that he broke his contract, saying:
“I broke my contract with Zulte in order to pursue better options for my career in a bigger league.
“Like the Premier League or Bundesliga.
“My aim is to play in England or Germany, and I hope that now happens.”
We will have to wait and see where Malanda ends up but for a small fee he would be an astute signing by Arsene Wenger and Arsenal.
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