Gunners set their sights on defender.<a href=’fanatix://eventid/51c186de034c7dfe27000069/’ class=’in-app-event-link’>Check in to Manchester United vs Arsenal</a>
Arsenal are set to step up their interest in Marseille defender Nicolas Nkoulou when the January transfer opens in the new year, the Metro reports.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is a known admirer of the highly rated 23-year-old and has kept tabs on his progress since first breaking through to the Monaco set up back in 2008.
And according to reports in France the manager is set to put his interest into practice with a bid during the January transfer window.
Wenger sent his trusted scout and ex-player Giles Grimandi to watch him in action during the French side’s Champions League defeat to Napoli on Wednesday night and reports came back glowing as they prepare for more recon missions in the coming weeks.
N’Koulou, who can play at centre back, right-back and in midfield, would fill a number of problem positions in Wenger’s squad.
And with question marks over the future of captain Thomas Vermaelen being raised, Wenger could well move for the Cameroonian international as he continues to look for further defensive options.
It is believed that Wenger still has the best part of a £60m warchest to spend in the new year and Nkoulou would likely take up around £12m of that.