One of Arsenal’s main focusses this summer is to find a new central midfielder and they are working hard on finding the right man to come in.
Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi, as HITC has confirmed, was long deemed the club’s top target, but a move for the Spain international has not progressed despite Arsenal and Mikel Arteta’s efforts.
Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz and Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes are two other who The Gunners hierarchy admire, whilst they have also done their homework on the likes of Everton’s Amadou Onana and Benfica’s Joao Neves.
HITC can now confirm that Arsenal are looking at French midfielder Youssouf Fofana, a player they have been keeping tabs on for more than two years.
Now HITC understands that Arsenal have touched base with Fofana’s representatives and Monaco, as they consider a move for the 25-year-old.
Arsenal looking closely at Youssouf Fofana
Fofana has just 12-months left on his current deal and Monaco are open to a sale, something their CEO Thiago Scuro admitted last month.
“There were good opportunities for him to leave last summer. It was his decision to stay because of his personal goals,” he told Get French Football News.
“It was a very good decision for us because he had a very good and consistent season, for him too as it was probably his best season at AS Monaco. He is probably one of the players that we are open to selling. We will see the opportunities that he has. It is still too early to make a decision.”
Arsenal are not the only interested party in Fofana, who has just linked up with the French squad ahead of featuring for Didier Deschamps’s side at this summer’s European Championships. AC Milan, Juventus, Atletico Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are amongst the sides looking closely at Fofana and his situation.
Fofana has long been linked with a move to England, with Aston Villa, Newcastle, Nottingham Forest and West Ham all previously expressing an interest. Now Arsenal could offer him that chance to make the switch across the Channel.
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